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SOLDIERING 



— IN — 



NORTH CAROLINA; 



— BEING — 

THE EXPERIENCES OP A 'TYPO* IN THE PINES, SWAMPS, FIELDS, 

SANDY ROADS, TOWNS, CITIES, AND AMONG THE FLEAS, 

WOOD-TICKS, 'GRAY-BACKS,' MOSQUITOES, BLUE-TAIL 

FLIES, MOCCASIN SNAKES, LIZARDS, SCORPIONS, 

REBELS, AND OTHER REPTILES, PESTS AND 

VERMIN OF THE 'OLD NORTH STATE.' 

EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE THREE- YEARS AND NINE- 
MONTHS MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT, 
THE FREEDMEN ETC., ETC., ETC. 

BY "ONE OF THE SEVENTEENTH." 



IIjIiUSTRATBD. 



BOSTON : 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THOMAS KIRWAN. 

1864. 



C2U 

X 



Entered According to Act of Congress, in the tear 1864, by 

THOMAS KIRWAN, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 






PREFACES. 

The contents of the following pages are presented to the 
public as matters of fact. They embody some of the writer's 
experiences while serving his country in the " land of cotton." 
It is true his experiences ate tame and unromantic when com- 
pared with those of some of the men of the Potomac or the 
Cumberland ; but they are the best he can offer, and need no 
apology, as the style does, which is rough and unpolished. 

Besides giving an account of the 17th Mass. Reg't, and its 
participation in the engagements at Kinston, Whitehall, and 
Goldsboro, something is said of the other old regiments in the 
department, and the nine months' men, — also, an account of 
the contrabands, their habits and disposition — anecdotes, &c. 



X>J3X>XO.A. , X , IC> wr . 



To the officers and men of the Seventeenth Massachusetts 
Regiment, who, through no fault ot their's, have only- 
lacked the opportunities to render their organiza- 
tion as famous as that of any regiment from 
the old Bay State : whose services have 
been mostly of that passive character 
— upon the outpost picket, and 
performing arduous duty in 
the midst of a malarial 
country — that suffers 
and endures much 
•without exciting 
comment or adding 
to the laurels, of which 
every true soldier is so proud : 

THIS HUMBLE WORK IS DEDICATED, 

By one who, with them, has braved the " pestilence that walk- 

eth abroad at noonday," the fatigues of the march, 

and the dangers of the battle. 



PAKT 1. 

ENLISTMENT DEPARTURE THE VOYAGE HATTERAS 

UP THE NEUSE NEWBERN AN ACCOUNT OF THE 17TH 

ON PICKET DOING PROVOST DUTY IN NEWBERN, ETC. 

It has been said that man is essentially a "fighting animal," — 
that in this " world's broad field of battle " his life, from the 
cradle to the grave, is one continued struggle against want and 
its attendant circumstances, — and that he is the greatest who, 
be his position what it may, acts well his part. If this be true — 
and I think it is — then the man who goes to the war only 
exchanges one mode of strife for another — " the whips and 
scorns of time," for interminable drilling, " hard tack and salt 
horse,"— "the oppressor's wrong," for the hardships of the march 
and the dangers of the battle, — " the proud man's con- 
tumely," for the murmurings at home that he does not " clean 
out " the rebels in a week or two, — "the law's delay," for the 
tedium of garrison and camp life, — " the insolence of office/' 
for the rule (not always gentle or humane) of men placed over 
him, — and the " bare bodkin," for the sword and the bayonet. 
And yet — and yet — 

" Ah me ! what perils do environ 

The man that meddles with cold iron ! 

What plaguy mischiefs and mishaps 

Do dog him still with after claps ! " 

The severe checks and disasters experienced by the Union 
arms in the Spring camaign of 1 862, culminating in the "seven 
days' fight " before Richmond, and the retreat of McClellan's 
noble but suffering and crippled army to James river, while it 
spread sorrow and mourning throughout the land, had the effect 
of awakening those in power to a full sense of the nation's peril. 



6 GOING. 

When the President called for more men, thereby giving effect 
to the wishes of the loyal people, I was one of those who helped 
to swell the volume of that mighty response which echoed back 
from the hills and prairies, cities and villages, towns and hamlets : 

"We are coming, father Abraham, three hundred thousand 
more !" 

Like others, I had to mourn the loss of a friend, — a brave 
young fellow, who was killed in the second of the " seven days' 
fight," and determined to fill his place, if I could. 

On the 4th of August, 1862, 1 entered my name as a " raw 
recruit " for Co. F, 19 th Mass. Reg't, as one of the quota of the 
town of Maiden. A friend, struck by my example, or, perhaps, 
being in that state of mind which needs but little to turn one 
way or the other, joined with me ; but upon going to the office 
in Boston where enlistments for the 19th were "done up," we 
were told recruiting for it was stopped. How times have altered 
since then, — now, I believe, it would take a battalion to fill it. 
We were in a fix (at least I was, who wished to go in the 19th), 
but there was a remedy at hand. A recruiting officer for the 
17th, who had an office in Union street, received us willingly, 
and after being examined and sworn in, we were packed off, 
with some twenty other recruits, to Camp Cameron in North 
Cambridge. It was late in the evening when we arrived there, 
and no preparation being made for us— owing, I suppose, to the 
constant and rapid influx of recruits, which taxed to their utmost 
the various departments to fit out and provide for, — we had to 
turn in, supperless, to a bunk of downy boards, with no covering 
but our thin citizens' summer clothes. I thought it was a very 
uncomfortable resting place at the time, but it was nothing to 
what I have since known in the way of sleeping accommodation. 
The next morning I had leisure to look around me and take a 
survey of the mass of human nature that there commingled for 
the first time. And truly it was a heterogeneous compound of 



GOING. 7 

representatives of nearly every race of people in Europe, and 
plentifully sprinkled among them was the leaven of the whole — 
smart, shrewd, intelligent, quick-eyed and quick-witted Ameri- 
cans. And such a confusing babble as prevailed I never heard 
before. Wrangling and swearing, drinking and eating, talking 
and laughing, — all combined to give me no very agreeable fore- 
taste of what I had to expect in my new vocation. I noticed 
others, new, like myself, to such scenes, who seemed mentally 
dumfounded, or unconsciously comparing the quiet routine of 
the life they led at home to the new one they had assumed, and, 
no doubt, to the great advantage of the former and dislike for 
the latter. But happily for us all, being the creatures of cir- 
cumstances, the pliability of our natures leads us to be quickly 
reconciled to our lot, whatever it may be. The change of life 
from a citizen to that of a soldier is so radical that few like it at 
first; but by degrees it becomes endurable, and finally, often, 
desirable. The recent re-enlistments prove this. 

There were several "characters" among the recruits in camp, 
to whom, if I could, I would devote a few pages, as well as to 
management of the camp and the method of dovetailing a little 
innocent private business into that of the public, as practiced by 
some of the little-great men in authority there ; but as paper 
costs 22 cents per pound, I am warned that I must leave out 
here and condense there, which is not so pleasant after all. 

Men were arriving every day in squads of from twenty to 
fifty, and leaving at intervals in detachments of from 100 to 500, 
to be distributed among their respective regiments at the seat of 
war. At length our turn came. It was on a Friday. — Now, 
Friday, though generally considered by superstitious persons an 
unlucky day, has often proved a lucky one for me. I was born 
on Friday ; was married on Friday ; and now I started to go to 
the war on Friday. I shouldn't wonder if on some Friday in 
the future I would die — and that will be another great event in 



8 GONE. 

my life. Well, we started on a Friday afternoon, and taking 
the cars at the Old Colony depot in Boston and the boat at Fall 
River, found ourselves next morning in the city of New York. 
We were quartered in barracks on White street, furnished with 
filthy beds, miserable "grub," and allowed free range of the city. 
A lieutenant (from Haverhill, I believe) had charge of our 
squad, which numbered about a hundred, and some of his en- 
thusiastic admirers in the crowd presented him with a sword. 
There was, of course, a presentation speech, enthusiastic, 
pathetic, patriotic and warlike, and a response suitable aud 
sentimental. It made a good impression on me at the time; but 
then I had yet to learn the difference between what an Indian 
would call "talk fight" and "fightem." 

On the following Monday afternoon, with all "traps" snugly 
bestowed and knapsacks strapped on, we were drawn up in 
front of the barracks, when the lieutenant stepped out in front 
and proposed three cheers for the barrack-master, which were 
given ; but I did not join in, even in dumb show, having too 
much consientiousness to outrage the finer feelings of my stomach 
by cheering for an individual who had cheated and abused it. 
We then took up our line ot march for the transport, and went 
along almost unnoticed save by a few patriotic individuals who 
bade us a fervent God-speed and wished that good-fortune might 
attend us wherever we went ; but the great mass seemed hard- 
ened to the sight of their fellow men going away from amongst 
them to explore unknown fields of danger, and to purchase with 
their life's blood a continuance and perpetuity of that nationality 
which has made the United States of America the first among 
nations. As these thoughts entered my mind, they suggested 
the picture of the hundreds of thousands of devoted men who 
passed through this great city, with all their hardest and most 
bitter experiences— hardships and dangers, sickness and death 
—before them, many, very many of them to return again no 



APPLES. 9 

more ; and I began to realize that, though still in a land of peace 
and plenty, a few days would bring me out upon far different 
scenes and into circumstances that would require a bold heart 
to meet as they ought to be met. Luckily for us all, the future 
cannot be penetrated, or we should be mourning calamities 
before they befall us ; dreading dangers before they threaten, 
and finally become unmanned at the awful prospect impending 
over our future. Still there is in the expectancy of danger 
something that is fascinating, and something, too, that even 
while we dread we seek ; and this feeling, the result of a strange 
curiosity, enlivened by hope aud the love of excitement, is what 
often keeps up the spirit of the soldier and urges him on, even 
when worn out with fatigue aud well-nigh exhausted, to renewed 
energy and more determined acts of bravery. 

The transport we embarked upon was a dilapidated steamer 
called the "Haze" (who that ever took passage in her to or from 
Dixie can forget the old tub ?), a miserably appointed vessel, 
whose officers and crew seemed better fitted for the peniten- 
tiary than for the station they held. It was in this vessel that 
I first learnt some of the hardships and inconveniences of a 
soldier's life. Just before the hawser was cast off, an Irish 
apple-woman came on board, her basket well laden with fruit, 
and said — "Come, me poor boys ; it's not many of these ye'll get 
in the place ye're goin' to — so help yerselves ! 'Tis all I have to 
give ye, except me blessin' — and may God bless ye all, and 
bring ye safe back agin to the f rinds ye have at home !" 

She then proceeded to distribute the apples (and fine ones 
they were) to the boys, many of whom, thinking more of the 
apples than the blessing, rushed eagerly in saying, "bully for 
you, old lady !" nearly overturning her in their desire to possess 
as much of the fruit as possible. As for me, I was content to 
let them have the fruit — the blessing and good wished of the 
warm-hearted old woman was all-sufficient for my desires. She 



10 IN A HAZE. 

stepped ashore, and as she disappeared in the crowd on the 
pier, I heard one of the lucky ones, who was luxuriating in the 

fruits of his scramble, remark to another lucky one, — " D d 

good apples ! — that's a bully old woman, — how did you like her 
malediction ?" "Big thing," was the response. 

The hawser was finally cast off, and, backing slowly out of 
the dock, the steamer was soon under full headway down the 
bay. What my emotions were as I gazed (perhaps) for the last 
time upon the surrounding scenes, I will not tire the reader by 
giving expression to, — doubtless they resembled in a manner 
those of thousands of others who had gone the same road before 
me. My comrades, however, as a general thing, were merry, 
and talked of the promised land (Dixie) in a tone that showed 
how high their hopes ran ; but presently, as we passed Sandy 
Hook, and the regular and continuous swell of the ocean set in, 
many who were before lively as kittens became tame and 
wretched-looking enough. It was dark before we passed the 
Highlands, and, though we could not see the Jersey shore we 
heard of it from the breakers, here and there catching glimpses 
of lights which told us that even among its barren sands many 
had found homes. But let Jersey pass, and Delaware, and 
Virginia's eastern shore — " away, away down South in Dixie " 
we go. But how few, comparatively, of our detachment were 
now so eager, after encountering one enemy, to meet another? 
And yet, I verily believe, many of these poor fellows would 
prefer at that time to run their chances in battle (if only on the 
land) than be tossed about at the mercy of the waves and so 
thoroughly sea-sick. As for me, whose somewhat eventful life 
had often before sent me "down to the sea in ships," I had no 
feelings of nausea, and consequently enjoyed the surroundings, 
the fresh, bracing sea air seeming to instil new vigor into my 
frame, which twenty years of toil in a printing office (with short 
intermissions) had tended to impair. Thus situated I could 



AT SEA. ; 11 

look about me, and I observed some who were formerly the 
jolliest of our baud now the saddest and most forlorn. One in 
particular (a fine young fellow, whom we dubbed "the colonel") 
who had been the life of our party, now, pale and sad, with not 
a word to say, lay doubled up inside the coils of a hawser, as 
forlorn as the Wandering Jew (by Eugene Sue). It was no 
more, with him, "Away daown Saouth in a few days — hooray !' 
We passed the Chesapeake, (Fortress Monroe,) Cape Henry 
and the dismal coast beyond, and on the third evening neared 
land to the north of Cape Hatteras. — But such land ! A long, 
low bar of sand, stretching away as far as the eye could reach, 
relieved at intervals by huge hummocks covered with a stunted 
growth of trees, whose ragged and forlorn limbs and inclined 
position made them appear as if a fierce hurricane all the while 
tore through their branches, threatening to uproot and cast them 
away forever. "There," said 1 to the 'colonel,' who had come 
upon deck when he heard we were near Hatteras, and stood 
beside me grasping the rail, — "There is Dixie, my jolly 'colonel.' 
We have come 'away daown Saouth in a few days,' haven't we ; 
and how do you like the lay of the land ? What— can't you 
even say 'hooray ?' " But only a faint smile was the answer. 
Shortly after dark we descried Hatteras light, which we neared 
about ten o'clock; but the captain would not venture in, and so 
we had to lay "off and on" till daylight, which was no pleasant 
job, for "the wind rose and the rain fell," and gave those who 
selected the deck for their sleeping place (myself among the 
number), with the assistance of an occasional dash of salt water, 
a pretty thorough soaking. As soon as it was clear day our 
craft headed for the "swash," the wind blowing a small gale, the 
rain coming in squalls as if some fretful genius presided over 
this unhappy coast, and the waves running in shore like race- 
horses, spreading their foam in a thin gray mist over the narrow 
line of sand, which seemed endeavoring almost in vain to keep 



12 HATTERAS. 

its back above the water. To our right, and north of the inlet, 
were the forts taken by Gen. Butler in his first Coast Expedition. 
Only one of these, Fort Hatteras, is now used. The other has 
either sunk into the sand or been almost wholly destroyed by 
the action of the waves. Fort Hatteras is an earthwork, but so 
admirably situated as to prove an almost impassible barrier to 
anything but ironclads. Beyond and around the fort on the 
land or sand side, were a few buildings used for quarters for the 
garrison and for ordnance stores. Anchored in the Sound, 
near by, were supply ships, transports, and old hulks; while 
here and there rows of disconsolate timbers, lifting their dripping 
heads above the tide, told the fate of many a noble ship of the 
glorious Expedition of Gen. Burnside. We "hove to" after 
entering the Sound to deliver the mails for the Fort; and the 
change from the violent rolling, tossing and pitching was such 
as to inspire even my old triend the 'colonel' with something 
of the spirit he was wont to display ere old Neptune changed 
his tune. After taking a look at the Fort and its surroundings, 
I turned my eyes to the opposite shore of the inlet, when lo, 
there stretched out in an almost straight line from the point into 
the Sound a troop or flock of — what ? That was the puzzle 
to my mind. Were they huge gulls or windbags, cormorants 
or cranes, devils or dogfish ? Fowl, flesh, or fish ? I watched 
them with close attention while asking myself these questions ; 
but ere my cogitations were finished they separated, spread 
their wings and took flight, apparently, but it seemed strange 
they did not rise from the surface of the water. They neaved 
us presently, and I made them out to be, instead of birds, small 
sail-boats. "Love launched a fairy boat," &c. No love for us 
there, I guess, was my mental comment. "Pilots," I heard some 
one say. They came fluking towards us, their comparatively 
large sprit-sails hurrying them along at no contemptible rate of 
speed. There were about fifteen of them, and it seemed evident 



A RACE. 13 

all could not get a job from our hazy skipper. "That's Jeff's 
navy," remarked one. 

"Hooray (or the boat that's ahead !" sang out the 'colonel.' 

"Bully tor the little fellow with the big sail !" exclaimed 
another. 

"I'll bet on the cross-gaffed, giraffe-colored one !" 

"Bully for the rip-staving roarer that wins !" 

"Aint she a-ripping up the old salt water canvas, skearing 
the sharks and astonishing the sea sarpints ?" 

"I'il bet Jeff.'s in that boat, and he's coming to ask us to dine 
with him in Richmond !" 

"Beauregard's in the second one !" 

"No, sir, that's Stonewall Jackson !" 

"D n StonewallJackson, or any other man !" and remarks 

of a like character attested the interest felt in this novel contest 
by others as well as myself. The boats were pelting away in 
fine style, each having a loose rein. Then hurrah, my hearties ! 
the lucky man wins, and "first come first served !" Two of the 
number were distinctly ahead of all the rest, and one of these 
slightly ahead of the other. 

"But Cutty Sark, before the rest, 
Hard upon noble Maggie prest — " 

so that when they came up it was difficult to say which was first, 
and both came aboard to dispute the point, while the remaining 
unsuccessful ones kept on, as if philosophically resigned to a fate 
they could not overcome. Our hazy skipper, who was not very 
particular about expenses when Uncle Sam had to foot the bills, 
and to end all disputes, took both pilots — a piece of diplomacy I 
hardly expected his thick head capable of conceiving. The 
anchor was hoisted, and away we sped over the dark, swampy 
waters of Pamlico Sound. Roanoke Island lay to our right, and 
ever and anon we caught glimpses of the low, swampy lands of 
Hyde and Plymouth counties. To the left or south we beheld 



14 UP THE NEUSB. 

a continuation of islands, and shortly after the main land of 
Cartaret county became visible. It seemed almost wholly 
unsettled, the wilderness appearance being only here and there 
relieved by the small clearing of a turpentine plantation, fishing 
establishment, or the twenty-acre field of a "poor white." 

We soon made Neuse river— a noble stream, upon the banks 
of which turpentine, pitch, rosin and tar enough might be made 
to supply the markets of the North. As we ascended the 
river the signs of habitation became more numerous although 
seeming "few and far between" to the eye accustomed to the 
more frequent settlements on Northern rivers, and the sombre 
hues of the pine, cedar and cypress forests were occasionally 
enlivened by the brighter foliage of persimmon, walnut and fig 
trees, the last flourishing here in great luxuriance, bearing two 
or rather a continuation of crops of delicious fruit in a season, 
and may be seen on every farm or plantation in patches of from 
a few trees to orchards ot twenty-five acres in extent. We 
could also trace the courses of the many "branches" or creeks 
from the lighter foliage of the gum and other water-loving 
trees. 

In the afternoon we* passed Slocum's Creek, where Burnside 
landed his troops the evening before the battle of Newbern, and 
soon the spires of this city, and the shipping, hove in sight; and 
towards the close of the day, after a sail of ten hours, during 
which time we steamed eighty or ninety miles, we drew up at 
the pier and prepared to disembark, thankful that we could 
again set foot on land and leave forever the accursed "Haze" and 
her brutal captain and crew. 

"Mind, I tell you," said one of the latter, "bad as you think 
the old 'Haze' is, you will before long be glad to be on board of 
her again — if you'd be let /" 

He was laughed at; but I doubt not many of them, ere six 
months elapsed, wished themselves anywhere else than where 



NEWBERN. 15 

they were. Still they could not see it then, but felt happy, like 
young bears, with all their troubles before them. 

The dilapidated and seedy condition of the wharves, and the 
ruins of houses, mills and turpentine factories, impressed me 
with a premonition of what I should yet witness of the ravages 
of war in this fair land. 

The city of Newbern bears the appearance of some age, is 
regularly laid out, the streets intersecting each other at right 
angles, and well protected from the merciless heat of summer 
by fine old elm trees, intermixed here and there with the chaney 
and other trees the names of which I do not recollect. The city 
is located at a point of land formed by the junction of the Trent 
river with the Neuse, and has altogether an imposing appear- 
ance viewed from the approach by water. 

The Mass. 23d Keg't, Col. Kurtz, (who was provost marshal,) 
was then doing provost duty in the city. 

When the order for landing was given, each scrambled ashore 
with the whole of his household furniture upon his back. After 
passing through a part of the city, we struck the railroad bridge, 
(destroyed by the rebels after their defeat, but rebuilt by our 
forces,) crossing which, and marching a mile or two, halted at 
the encampment of the 17th on the Trent river, where we were 
welcomed by the men of the various companies, many of whom 
found friends and acquaintances among the 'raw recruits.' My 
comrade had friends in the Maiden Company (K), of which we 
were henceforth to form a part, and we received a hearty wel- 
come from the members of mess 5, some of the good-natured ones 
of which taxed themselves to the amount of nearly a dollar to 
procure from the sutler something more palatable for our first 
meal than 'hard tack and salt horse.' 

After 'taps' the lights were put out, and we disposed ourselves 
upon the tent-floor to sleep, in the manner of spokes of a cart- 
wheel, our feet toward the hub, which consisted of the gun-rack 



16 IN CAMP ON THE TttENT. 

around the tent-pole, there to revolve in the circle of dreams of 
home and friends far distant. Before closing our eyes, however, 
and while inquiries were plied and answered thick and fast, one 
of the mess startled the newcomers by exclaiming — 

"A rat ! A rat ! I have him !" 

"Pass him around !" was the general cry. 

"Now I've got him !" another exclaimed. This was followed 
by a gurgling noise, as in the first instance. 

The 'rat' came nearer, and presently I smelt him. There 
was no mistaking that 'rat/ — he came from Jersey and was 
surnamed 'lightning,' and cost the fourth part of a soldier's pay 
for one month. Being eagerly pressed to taste him, I did taste, 
but that was all — the smell was enough, and I passed him over 
to the next man. 

Sleep at length overcome me, and 1 dreamed of rats made 
of glass, squealing "Jersey lightning ! Jersey lightning !" until 
morning, when I awoke to find myself surrounded by comrades 
busy eating breakfast. Beside me stood a dipper of smoking 
hot coffee, some hard bread and salt beef, provided by one of 
the most thoughtful of my new friends. 

After guard-mounting (9 a.m.) the recruits were drawn up 
in line, assigned to the various companies, examined by the 
surgeon, and, after a few words of encouragement or advice 
from their captains (and mayhap a glass of whisky), returned to 
their quarters, feeling relieved, no doubt, that the affair was 
over. 

Thus, in the course of about an hour, the recruits were 
disposed of, and duly incorporated with the regiment — to share 
in its messes and marches, its skirmishes and scratches, its picket 
duty and plunder, its whisky and quinine, its tents and hospitals, 
its hard tack and salt horse, its pea soup and pea coffee, its 
baked beans without brown bread, its pride and its perils, its 
glory and its graveyards. 



OFFICERS OF THE SEVENTEENTH. 17 

The following is a list of the principal staff and line officers 
of the 17th, the companies and where they v/ere raised, together 
with an account — taken from a diary or journal of Mr. Win. 
Noble, of Saugus, (the first color sergeant)— of the doings of the 
regiment from its inception down to the 5th of January, 1862 : 

Colonel — Thomas I. C. Amory. 

[Mr. Amory was born in Boston, Nov. 27, 1828; entered 
West Point in 1846, and graduated in 1851, when he was ap- 
pointed 2d lieutenant in the 7th Infantry, ordered to Fort Smith 
in Arkansas, and was promoted 1st lieutenant in 1855. In 1858 
he was ordered to Utah, under the command of the late Gen. 
Albert Sidney Johnson, who joined the rebels at the outbreak 
of the Southern rebellion and was killed at Shiloh; was ordered 
to Boston on recruiting service in 1860, and was promoted to a 
captaincy May 7, 1861. When the war broke out, he obtained 
leave of absence from the War Department, and accepted a 
commission from Gov. Andrew as Colonel of the 17th Mass. 
Vols., on Sept. 7th, 1861. Since the regiment has been in the 
Department of North Carolina, he has acted as General of 
Brigade ; but whether his nomination for the brigadiership has 
been confirmed or not, I am unable to say. Of this I am cer- 
tain, however, that there are few officers at this time servin° in 
our armies better capable of wearing the star or more fully 
deserving of it than Thomas I. C. Amory.] 

Lieut. Colonel— John F. Fellows. 

[Mr. Fellows, of Chelsea, is well known in Boston, having 
been for many years connected with its daily press. He was 
also an active member of the State Militia. When the war 
broke out he offered his services to Gov. Andrew, from whom 
he received a commission as Lieut. Colonel of the 17th Reg't on 
the 21st of August, 1861. He has proved himself a capable 
officer and a thoroughly brave man. I shall have frequent 
occasion to speak of him hereafter.] 



18 OFFICERS AND COMPANIES OF 

Major — Jones Frankle. (Now, Luther Day.) 

[Mr. Frankle is a Prussian by birth, and served in the war 
of 1848 in Germany, at which time he did not "fight mit Sigel," 
but against him. He received his commission as Major of the 
17th on the 1st of August, 1861 ; and proved himself a capable 
and efficient officer. In June, 1863, he resigned his commission 
in the 17th for the purpose of raising an artillery regiment (the 
2d Mass. Heavy Artillery) which he now commands, and which 
is doing duty in the field and in forts in the various parts of 
North Carolina held by our forces. He was succeeded by senior 
captain (Co. F) Luther Day, of Haverhill, a very good officer.] 

Adjutant— B. N. Mann. (Now, H. A. Cheever.) 

[Mr. Mann was, I believe, for many years connected with the 
Boston Post Office. He is a brave man, and generous as he is 
brave. He was succeeded by Mr. Cheever in the Fall of '62.] 

Quartermaster — Capt. Harris was commissioned Quarter- 
master of the 17th ; but resigned in the Fall of '61, and was suc- 
ceeded by Lieut, (afterwards Capt.) Thompson, who died at 
Newbern in October, '62. Lieut. Dexter succeeded, and is 
the present incumbent. 

Surgeon — Isaac F. Galloupe. 

[Dr. Galloupe is a hard-working, skillful, efficient and humane 
man, and discharges his duty in a manner that commands the 
respect and gratitude of every man who comes under his treat- 
ment. The Dr. is from Lynn.] 

Assistant Surgeon — Wm. H. W. Hinds, of Boston. 

[The men have no exalted opinion of this Dr.'s kindness or 
capacity, though he seems attentive and a hard worker. Per- 
haps his unpopularity arises from the fact that he unmercifully 
doses all whom he considers 'bummers' (i. e., those who are too 
lazy to do duty and 'play sick' to escape its performance) with 
salts, jalap, blue pills, and especially quinine; but I think he 
often punishes in this manner the deserving as well as the guilty.] 



THE SEVENTEENTH. 19 

Co. A — Capt. Henry Splaine, of Haverhill — was raised prin- 
cipally in Newbury port. 

Co. B — Capt. Enoch F. Tompkins, of Haverhill (vice Capt. 
S. C. Bancroft, S. Danvers, resigned) — South Danvers. 

Co. C — Capt. Nehemiah P. Fuller — Danvers. 

Co. D — Capt. Ivory N. Richardson, of Maiden (Capt. Lev^ 
Thompson, of Cambridge, deceased) — Salisbury and Amesbury. 

Co. E — Capt. Michael McNamara, of Haverhill— Stoneham 
and Haverhill. 

Co. F — Capt. Day (now Major) — Haverhill. 

Co. G — Capt. G. W. Kenney, of Danvers— Rockport and 
Salem-. 

Co. //—Capt. J. K. Lloyd— Boston and Fall River. 

Co. /—Capt. Wm. W. Smith, of Danvers (vice Capt. Thos. 
Weir) — Lawrence. 

Co. K — Capt. Joseph R. Simonds, of Melrose — Maiden, 
Medford and Sausiuc;. 



" Recruiting for this regiment commenced as early as the fall 
of Fort Sumter, but owing to the embarrassed condition of the 
State, the hesitation of the General Government in regard to 
accepting troops, and the want of authority on the part of the 
Governor to act, this regiment was obliged to wait from week 
to week without any decisive answer as to the intention of the 
Government, concerning its organization. The companies were 
formed on the militia basis, and were desirous of a regimental 
organization, and to be mustered into the service, but every 
effort which the company officers made in that direction, seemed 
to be counteracted by the dominant political and monied influ- 
ence which was brought to bear in favor of other regimental 
organizations, to the disparagement and detriment of the com- 
panies comprising the 17th. While others were splendidly 
provided for by private munificence, and hurried off to the seat 



20 LEAVE CAMP AND ARRIVE IN BALTIMORE. 

of war, this regiment was unprovided by the State with an t 
organization, clothing, arms, equipments or rations. An opinion i 
prevailed at one time, that all idea of a regimental organization i 
must be given up, and the companies enter the United States a 
service, through some other State organization. Captains s 
Fuller of Danvers, and Day of Haverhill, determined on bring- 
ing the matter to a/ocus. 

" They visited the Governor, and after several ineffectual I 
efforts to get an audience, at length succeeded, and informed: 
His Excellency that they were going into the army, and should 
take their commands with them; that they wanted to go in a 
Massachusetts Regiment, and unless accepted by the State,, 
should go into the Mozart Regiment of New York, as one or 
two other "companies from Massachusetts had already done. 
Orders were given them by the Governor to go into the camp 
at Lynnfield. The other companies of which this regiment is 
composed, were ordered to the same place, and all arrived there 
between the 10th and 12th of July. They were mustered into 
the United States service on the 22d, remained in camp until 
the 23d of August, when they were ordered to Baltimore, and 
arrived in that city on the 25th, at 4 o'clock p.m. The princi-i 
pal duty of the regiment thus far, had been of a police character, 
and it was moved about either as a whole or a part, from one: 
portion of the city to another, as circumstances required. 

" Nov. 15, Co.'s F, K, E, G, H, and C, with Captain Nims 1 
Battery, were detailed to form a part of the brigade under com- 
mand of General Lockwood, for an expedition into the counties 
of Accomac and Northampton, Va., for the purpose of break- 
ing up a rebel force concentrating there. The expedition went: 
on board a steam transport, and on the 17th arrived at New- 
town. Here they pitched their tents for the night, and the next 
day marched a distance of sixteen miles into the country. The 
rebels had felled trees across the roads in many places to ob- 



EXPEDITION INTO EAST VIRGINIA. 21 

struct the advance of the troops, but they were cleared away 
with but little delay. One deserted rebel battery pierced for 
four guns, was found on this day's march. 

"On the 19th, the regiment reached Oak Hall, and on the 20th 
the men went out fowling, and were very successful, taking a 
large amount of game, which was dressed and partaken of by 
the men with double relish, as they were on short rations of 
hard bread and salt junk, and were much exhausted by the 
fatigues of their march. On the 21st marched to Drummond- 
town, a distance of twenty-seven miles, performing the journey 
in eight hours, notwithstanding the many obstructions thrown 
across the road by the rebels, and the burned bridges which 
required them to march round, following the bend of the 
streams. On this march, between Oak Hall and Drummond- 
town, another rebel battery was discovered, pierced for fourteen 
guns. The stars and stripes were at once raised over it, and three 
rousing cheers given. 

re re 

"November 23, took from the rebels seven guns, 150 small 
arms, one barrel of powder, besides some swords, shot and shell. 
At the jail were stored 8,000 rounds of cartridges and 200 
small arms, which were also taken. Two gun-carriages and 
one brass howitzer were also found secreted in the woods, and 
captured. On the 26th, marched to Pongoteague, a distance of 
twelve miles, and found another deserted battery. 

"November 27th, marched from Pongoteague to Franktown, a 
distance of twelve miles ; and on the 28th, marched to East- 
ville, thirteen miles, taking on the way one brass cannon, seven 
horses, some small arms and swords, besides several other arti- 
cles contraband of war. The rebels had an unfinished earth- 
work here which they deserted on the approach of the Federal 
troops. 

"A very large proportion of the arms and military stores cap- 
tured were returned by Gen. Lockwood to the parties claiming 



22 IN BALTIMORE. 

them, creating great dissatisfaction among the troops, and 
rendering the General liable to the suspicion that he sympa- 
thized with the rebels. 

"The object of the expedition having been attained, the: 
brigade was broken up, and the Mass. 17th embarked at Cher- 
rystone on the 1st and 2d of Dec, and sailed on the 4th for: 
Baltimore, where they arrived the same evening, and went into) 
their old quarters. On the 18th they commenced building bar- 
racks [on Stewart's Place] for winter quarters and moved into 
them on the 5th of January." (These barracks are still stand- 
ing, and used as a general hospital.) 

In February Co.'s F and H relieved the 6th Michigan at 
McKim's Place, and K and G the 4th Wisconsin at Patterson's 
Park, those regt's being destined to form part of Gen. Butler's 
force then about to sail tor New Orleans. On the 14th of 
March four other Co.'s of the 17th were ordered to Fort Mar- 
shall, East Baltimore, to assist in defending that fortification 
from an attack by rebel sympathizers, who, emboldened by the 
destructive raid of the Merrimac in Hampton Roads, meditated 
a rising in Baltimore, if not throughout the State. 

When the 17th arrived in Baltimore they found the people 
of that city nearly all 'secesh' in sentiment, and seeming only 
constrained from rising by the presence in, and passage through, 
the city, of large numbers of troops. It will then be readily 
inferred that the men of this regiment had no very enviable 
task to perform in endeavoring to keep the peace and making 
these disaffected people see the evil of their ways. In doing 
this, however, they were not fools enough to use moral suasion 
alone — that would be casting pearls before swine — No ; they 
used arguments that were far more convincing, such as street 
drills, practicing at street firing, &c, all of which turned the 
hate of the 'secesh' citizens into fear — and, finally, their fear 
became a feeling of respect. What if the men were insulted 



DEPARTURE FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 23 

every time they walked the streets — the women (who were the 
most outspoken) at length became weary of abusing them, and 
the men who attempted to insult them never tried that game a 
second time ; for they found in the men of this regiment a spirit 
that would brook no abuse — an indomitable, dare-devil disposi- 
tion that met them half way with a bovvie knife as long and as 
keen as their own, and a pistol as deadly. Thus they fought 
their way to respect, and this latter feeling ripened into affec- 
tion, which is shown by the fact that when the regiment was 
about to sail for North Carolina, the ladies of Baltimore pre- 
sented it with a magnificent silk flag, upon which was painted 
a fine portrait of Washington. 

On the 27th of March, '62, the regiment embarked at Balti- 
more for Newbern, North Carolina, which place they reached 
on the 1st of April, and encamped on a field to the west of the 
city, — near where Fort Totten now stands, and which was 
then in process of construction. On the 7th of April the regi- 
ment was ordered out on picket duty — the left wing to Jack- 
son's place on the Trent road, and the right wing to a place 
called the Red House on the Neuse road, relieving the 24th and 
27th Mass. regt's. The regiment remained on picket until the 
30th May, during which time they had frequent skirmishes with 
the enemy, and made several raids and forays into the enemy's 
country. Shortly after the regiment went to Jackson's place, a 
few companies made a dash about nine miles up trie Trent road 
to a church, where they had a smart brush with the ' rebs,' two 
of whom were killed and one wounded, and one taken prisoner. 
It was here that one of those ludicrous incidents occurred which 
often serve to relieve the dark outline of war's grim visage. 
When the enemy were come up with, and firing became fre- 
quent, Lt. Col. Fellows ordered the men to open right and left 
to let the artillery pass to the front. One of the captains, mistak- 
ing the full purport of the order, and thinking the ranks were 



24 OUT ON PICKET SKIRMISHING. 

to be opened to allow the rebels a fair field and an open road to 
come into close quarters with his men, sang out : 
*"Open right and left, and let the d — d scallywags through!" 

Captain Weir, of Co. I, with his command, and as many 
volunteers as wished to accompany them, made a raid to Pol- 
lockville to capture cotton, and anything else that might prove 
of value to the "rebs" in their belligerent character. Now, as 
this was not the first time Tom Weir (as he was familiarly 
called) had invaded the sanctity of that village, the rebs had a 
special eye to his movements, and lay in wait for him. 

He had a mule team loaded with cotton, corn and other 
plunder preceding him on his return, which the rebs in ambush 
allowed to pass ; but just as the company got opposite to where 
they were concealed, they poured in a volley which killed three 
and wounded the same number — and put the men into such a 
panic that they fled. The captain stood, and endeavored to 
rally them, but to no purpose, and he had to follow and leave 
those who had fallen to their fate (which was being stripped of 
arms, equipments, clothes, and whatever valuables they had 
upon them), until rescued by the reinforcement which came up 
promptly — to find the rebels flown. For this Captain Weir 
was court-martialed, and dismissed the service — a sentence 
which was universally condemned by the men, who considered 
him a brave officer, having done all a man could do under the cir- 
cumstances. 

Captain Lloyd of Company H, next tried bis hand in 
Pollocksville, but lost three men by the upsetting of a boat in 
the Trent river on his outward march. He, however, took 
some plunder and two prisoners. 

The results of all these scouts and forays were the capture 
of several thousand dollars' worth of cotton, corn, cattle, hens, 
&c, (there must have been foul play somewhere). 

The regiment returned to Newbern on the 30th of May 



THE MAJOR TREES A GUERILLA. 25 

and on the 26th of June were ordered to Swift Creek — 
upon approaching the bridge leading across which they were 
fired upon by the rebels (without sustaining any damage) who 
had a battery masked by a breastwork or fort of shingles. The 
17th charged across the bridge in fine style (the bridge was 
a lightly built one, and swayed and shook under the combined 
weight of 600 men in such a manner as to lead to the belief 
that it would break down, but it didn't) ; but upon crossing they 
found the enemy had flown. Three companies went up the 
road in pursuit some distance, but the ' rebs' were nowhere to 
be found. They halted near a dwelling house, when some of 
the men went into an adjoining negro hut, where a pot of meat 
and cabbage was in process of being cooked, which they pro- 
ceeded to confiscate; but just as they had commenced their 
feast an officer came up and drove them off, saying: 

"Dum thee, did thee coom here to ploonder." 

At the same time, it was asserted, though I don't believe it, 
that the officer who thus drove them from the feast had his pock- 
ets filled with sweet potatoes and other " ploonder." Three 
prisoners were taken. One of them a lad about 16 years 
old, was thus interrogated by the Major: 

" Vat for you be guerilla for ?" 

" I'm not a guerilla, sir ; I'm in the regular Confederate 
service." 

"Vat for you lay in ambush, den ?" 

"I didn't lay in any bush, sir ; I was standing behind a tree." 

" Ha ! You be von rascally guerilla, and we vill shtring you 
up to a tree, ven we arrive in Newbern !" 

But it is needless to say this threat was not carried out. 

The reg't here received orders to rejoin the division (the 9th 
army corps) which was about to leave the Department with 
Gen. Burnside, and started cf a Sunday morning 28th (without 
breakfast) on their return. The weather was intensely hot, and 



26 A MARCH IN THE SAND AND SUN. 

the sand on the road was ankle deep. The case, however, was 
pressing, and the men were urged to their utmost ; but the task 
was too much for them, — and when the reg't arrived at the 
landing about 4 p.m., after a march of 22 miles, it numbered 
little more than a full company — the remaining 400 or 500 
being distributed along the road for miles back. They, however, 
kept coming in in squads of from two to twenty during the 
remaining part of the afternoon and evening — and a more tired 
and thoroughly used up lot of men it would be difficult to find 
anywhere. To make matters worse, when the reg't arrived at 
the landing opposife Newbern, they found no transportation for 
them, and nothing wherewith to satisfy the cravings of hunger. 
It was not until about 12 o'clock at night that they received a 
ration of hard bread and salt meat ; but no vessels arrived to 
transport them across, and they were forced to lay out upon the 
sandy beach, without shelter, in a pelting, pitiless rain, which 
had set in early in the evening. Next morning a couple of 
scows or flat-boats arrived, and they were taken across; but 
Gen. Burnside pitying their forlorn and used up condition, and 
thinking it would be an act of cruelty to put men in such a state 
on board transports, ordered the 6th New Hampshire reg't to 
take their place. Thus the Seventeenth were cheated by fate 
out of their share of the glory of South Mountain, Antietam, 
Bull Run 2d, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Knoxville ; 
and were compelled to silently and doggedly face and fight 
the most deadly of human foes in its own malarial fens and 
swamps. 

About the first of July the reg't was ordered to camp on the 
south side of the Trent river near the county bridge, to do 
picket and outpost duty, which consisted of sending a company 
to Bray's Ferry and plantation about three miles out, and 
another to Evans' Mills— seven miles down the railroad towards 
Beaufort. 



RAIDS TO POLLOCKSVILLE AND SWIFT CREEK. 27 

About July 25th the regiment went in an expedition to Pol- 
locksville, and constructed a bridge across the Trent river for 
the entire column to cross upon, after reaching which place, 
Col. Amory, who was in command, decided to push on to Tren- 
ton ; but upon approaching to within four miles of the latter 
place he found the enemy too strong, and withdrew without 
bringing on an engagement. 

August 20th, six companies of the 17th went to Swift Creek, 
again, accompanied by a section of the New York Marine Ar- 
tillery and four boat howitzers. Lt. Col. Fellows, who was in 
command of the expedition, having missed the boat that con- 
veyed the reg't and artillery across the river, the command 
devolved upon the Major, who marched them about a mile from 
the landing, and halted to await the Colonel's coming. The 
column halted opposite a dwelling, and, as is often the case 
under like circumstances, there was a rush for the well to fill 
canteens. Two of the men, however, strayed into a field and 
were making a flank movement upon a pile of tumble-down log 
outbuildings, supposed to abound in hens, chickens, eggs, &o. 
One of these men, a very tall and large specimen of humanity- 
was named Gilman; the other was a small man, and, for my 
purpose, nameless. The vigilant Major detected this unauthorized 
flanking affair, and, being determined to put a stop to all such 
unmilitary proceedings, sung cut: 

"Vat for you shtray off dat way ? Come back, I say to you ! 
Dou-bel twit!" (quick) 

The little man obeyed, and came back at a dog-trot. Gilman, 
however, hastened back slowly — at much too slow a gait to suit 
his impatient superior, who yelled out again : 

"Dou-bel twit! — I say— dou bel twit !" 

But no faster came Gilman on, and the Major (who was a 
little man) rushed to him, and seizing him by the coat collar as 
he was crossing a fence, dragged him over, — then,- drawing his 



28 WHAT THE MAJOR COULD DO TOM CROKE. 

sword and flourishing it about the head of the still doggedly 
defiant Giluian, exclaimed : 

"You tink, because I am small, I'm be afraid of you ? I will 
let you know ! Dou-bel twit ! now, or I will make two Gilman 
of you!" 

There was a man called Tom Croke in Co. E — an extremely 
hard ticket — quarrelsome, venomous, and altogether thoroughly 
depraved. He had been a source of trouble and annoyance to 
the officers of the company ever since he came into it. On this 
expedition, I believe, he shot the top of one of his fingers off — 
an accident, as he told the captain (McNamara) — 

"Devil d n you," replied the latter, "it's a pity it wasn't 

your head !" 

Tom Croke, for this or some other misdemeanor, was subse- 
quently court-martialed and sent to Fort Macon to serve out his 
time, from which place he escaped to the rebels. On his way 
from the Fort to rebeldom he met a deserter coming into our 
lines, whom he directed as to the best route to pursue, and who 
in turn gave him such information as he desired to facilitate his 
escape. 

When the expedition arrived at the bridge over Swift Creek 
it was evening. Our cavalry, which had preceded them, were 
bivouacked for the night on the other side, and our men at 
first took them to be rebels, but were soon undeceived. 

There was a store-house in the village of Swift Creek, con- 
taining a variety of articles in the dry goods, grocery and 
merchandise line. Some of the boys smelt the plunder, and 
proceeded to confiscate* The wife of the owner of the store 
suspecting what was going on, went to Col. Fellows and told 
him the men were breaking in, and he immediately repaired to 
the scene of operations to put a stop to such work. A member 
of Co. K, who had been left on the watch, gave warning of the 
colonel's approach, and the raiders hid. 



"i'm on guard, sir." 29 

"What bo! there, — what does all this mean? What are you 
doing here?" (To Co. K man.) 

"I'm on guard, sir." 

"All right, madam,'' said the colonel ; "you see there is a 
guard on." 

What plunder the boys obtained it -would be bootless to 
relate. 

The expedition returned to Newborn, burning the bridge 
after them. 

The camp of the 17th was situated in what was formerly a 
cotton field, on the banks of the river Trent, affording excellent 
facilities for washing clothes and bathing, of which most of the 
men availed themselves, — and at all hours of the day men could 
be seen bathing in the river, or squatted along its margin wash- 
ing clothes. It seemed at first sight to one unacquainted with 
the peculiarities of the climate, to be a well chosen and healthy 
location (and indeed it was about the best in the vicinity) ; but 
the hanging mosses that everywhere shrouded the few solitary 
cedars which still survived the ravages of the pioneer's axe, 
showed the unmistakeable presence of fever and ague — that 
pest of new and warm countries. About a couple of hundred 
yards up the river, close to the county bridge, a fort was in 
process of completion, — the work of 'contrabands,' numbers of 
whom I observed busily employed in and around it. Beyond 
this were encamped some light batteries ; while still further on, 
and at the crossing of a deep, sluggish stream called Brice's 
Creek, a number of detailed men were at work constructing a 
block-house (a square-built fort, made of hewn logs, compactly 
put together — and most conveniently constructed to be knocked 
to pieces by a six-pounder about a poor devil's ears). Between 
the artillery camp and the block-house was a brick dwelling- 
house, once the property of Gov. Speight, the late owner and 
family of which fled after the battle of Newbern. This house 



30 ACROSS THE TRENT. 

was aiterwards demolished to supply bricks for chimneys of 
barracks built near by in the Fall. To the rear of this house, 
about 75 yards distant, beautifully shaded by fine old trees, was 
the tomb of Gen. Speight, a revolutionary hero, and one of the 
early Governors of North Carolina. 

The plain on which the 17th were encamped is about two 
and a half miles long, and from one-half to two miles wide, and 
had, evidently, before the rude hand of war obliterated their 
boundaries and landmarks, consisted of two or three plantations. 
This plain was an excellent place for drilling, and nearly all 
reviews were held there. 

The whole field gave evidence of having, at different times 
and in different parts, been camped upon by infantry, artillery, 
and cavalry — and everywhere evidences of military occupation 
were visible in the shape of broken bottles, dilapidated canteens, 
dippers and plates, and remnants of worn-out shoes, coats, 
blouses, pants, and harness, forgotten ^tent-stakes, sink holes and 
caved-iu wells. While overhead and around, unnoticed and 
unmolested, on lazy wing sailed the huge turkey-buzzard, scent- 
ing the dead carcase and decayed garbage from afar, and 
patiently biding the absence of man from its vicicinity ere he 
descended to gorge himself therewith. 

I noticed a great variety of wild flowers in the fields, some of 
which were very beautiful. A species of cactus grows wild 
here ; but is a very inferior kind. Wild garlic is also to be met 
with everywhere. A coarse grass, called Bear's grass, grows in 
bunches here, the -leaves of which, when subjected to a roasting 
process in hot ashes, are uncommonly strong, and take the place 
of small ropes and cords with the natives, who apply it in a 
variety of ways, from the suspension of a dead pig to the tying 
of a shoe, or temporarily supplying the place of a lost button. 
From the centre of these bunches of Bears grass a stem five or 
six feet high shoots up in the spring-time, which is crowned with 



CONFLICT WITH 'GRAY-BACKS' AND THEIR ALLIES. 31 

a crest of yellow flowers very beautiful to behold at a distance. 

A few days' experience of camp-life gave me a better knowl- 
edge of its comforts and discomforts, its tribulations and my 
philosophy. It was the middle of August, and the weather very 
warm. The first night of my abode in my new quarters was 
undisturbed from any cause, from the fact that I was tired after 
the sea-voyage. But the second night I was destined to feel 
some of the annoyances to be endured by campaigners in warm 
climates. Mosquitoes revel in this congenial atmosphere, as do 
also the blue-tail fly, and a species of biting insect like the com- 
. mon house-fly, while gallinippers, gnats, ants, and biting sand- 
fleas, (which play second fiddle to the old-fashioned iron-clad 
chaps, their bites making one squirm as if twinged by a bad con- 
science,) and grey-backs, all attack the hapless sleeper in 
succession, in a body, by detail, in squads, battalion, — in brigades 
drawn up in echelon — in front, flank and rear. They scale the 
walls of his fortress in the very teeth of a fierce cannonade of 
imprecations — burst the barriers of bedclothes — penetrate the 
abatti of woolen socks and tighily-tied drawers — and though, 
even after gaining the inside of your works, they are subjected 
to a deadly cross-fire of small arms, yet they invariably "attain 
the object of their reconnoisance." The bayonet is powerless 
against them, and they never draw off from the attack till fairly 
exhausted with the feast of blood. 

What surprised me most was the utter indifference manifested 
by the veterans to the petty annoyance of vermin and insects, 
and the matter-of-fact way in which they overhauled their cloth- 
ing and disposed of the greybacks when found. 

For about a week the recruits had "fine times," as the soldiers 
thought, having nothing to do but "bum around," and sleep — 
when they could, which was mostly in the day time. The days 
were excessively hot, as were the nights until about 11 or 12 
o'clock, when it became uncomfortably cold. 



y 



32 OLD BRAY AND HIS LADY. 

During this week of leisure, I pretty thoroughly explored the 
region in the vicinity of our camp, and visited Newbern on 
'pass,' but found nothing special there to note, if I may except 
the fact that there were many really cozy and comfortable- 
looking dwellings, and numerous flower and fruit gardens— some 
of which gave evidences of former tasteful ownership, but which 
seemed of late to have come in for their share of the general 
neglect and destruction. Those of the inhabitants who still 
clung to their homes seemed to wear a sullen and discontented 
look, with some exceptions, and these were of the mercantile 
class, who, with the sutlers and others who follow the wake of 
armies, seemed to fall in for their fair proportion of the trade. 

About the greatest curiosity to me was what was called the 
new cemetery, in the upper section or suburb of the city, — the 
wall enclosing which is built of shell-rock — a curious fossil con- 
crete obtained in some part of the State — where I do not know. 
There are many graves, and a few tasteful tombstones. Be- 
yond this in what has become an open field or common, arc 
several soldiers' graveyards consecrated by the poor fellows 
whose bodies repose there, who for love of fatherland, left home 
and kindred to return no more. 

My first duty on picket was at Mr. Bray's plantation. '-Old 
Bray" the boys called him, and being on the outpost which was 
near his house, 1 determined to give the old gentleman a call. I 
found Mr. and Mrs. Bray at home, the former seated on the 
piazza reading a newspaper, and the latter squatted on the door- 
step doing 'nothing in particular.' They were a lean pair, (but 
their leaniny was not on our side, as I afterwards found), and 
had a family of five or six lean boys and girls. They certainly 
looked an unromantic enough realization of our ideal Southern 
planter and his family. Mr. Bray was apparently about 45 years 
of age, and his wife perhaps as old, although she seemed much 
older. They both looked sour and cross enough to dispense 



'niggers' and pigs. 33 

with the use of vinegar at meal-time. But they did not seem 
indisposed to have a chat with the Yankee 'hirelings,' and 
soon I was made acquainted with all their griefs— the husband 
commencing the relation of them, but the wife invariably wind- 
ing up. 

I then for the first time learnt how this benevolent planter and 
his amiable wife had been abused — how, first of all, notwith- 
standing a 'protection' from Gen. Burnside, their 'niggers' had 
been enticed away, all efforts to get them back proving fruitless, 
owing to the "abolition officers and soldiers." 

"Niggers and pigs were the only things that ever paid . any 
ways well," put in Mrs. Bray. 

They had only five pigs and three 'niggers' left now, and did 
not know how soon they'd go off with the rest. 

Some of the soldiers who had been on picket near their 
plantation had behaved very bad, and had stolen and destroyed 
much of their corn and all their water melons (melancholy to 
relate) ; and Co. K of the 17th, was the worst of the lot — and 
the lady wound up with the expression of a hope "that the 
new recruits would be more of gentlemen than the old soldiers, 
and not seek to injure her as they had done." 

Mr. Bray then showed me his melon patch which, though 
evincing some traces of the recent vandal act, still bore a goodly 
number, which I made a note of. He also showed me & patch 
of cotton, in full bloom, — and after another hour of, desultory 
conversation, I left with the impression that old Bray was a 
'great man on a small scale,' but his wife was the greater of 
the two. - — 

About September 1st a storm came on, accompanied by rain,, 
which lasted that and the following day and night, giving us and 
our traps a thorough soaking. During all this time I did not 
sleep a wink. The third morning, wet, sleepless and weary, I 
was detailed for guard, and was put on the third ^relief (from 1 



34 IS THAT A 'NAGER' I SEE BEFORE ME? 

to 3 p.m., and 1 to 3 a.m), and during the first two hours of my 
guard was refreshed hy a 'jolly' shower of rain, which came in 
at my coat collar and soon filled and overflowed my boots. 

When the third relief turned in for the night, I lay down 
with the rest, on the wet ground, and attempted to sleep ; but it 
was no go — so, lighting my pipe (sole comforter at times), I left 
the tent, and sat under a tree near by, and smoked the hours 
away (rain or no rain) until the third relief fell in, when taking 
my musket and falling in to my place, I was soon on my post, 
which extended from a tree (blown over by the wind) to the 
river bank, about 85 paces distant. I felt drowsy, but paced 
my beat rapidly to keep awake, until tired out, I leaned against 
the inclined trunk of the fallen tree to rest awhile. My brain 
was in a whirl, and everything about me seemed to reel and 
oscillate unsteadily. It was moonlight, T^ut cloudy. More than 
once I thought I detected myself napping, and shook myself, 
and pinched my nose and ears to keep awake. My comrade, 
whose beat joined mine, came up occasionally, and we exchanged 
a few words. I exhorted him if he caught me napping to rouse 
me. He had left me, and was near the other end of his beat, 
when, on looking after him, I beheld, about ten paces from me, 
as plainly as if in daylight, the form of a huge negro. He wore 
a broad-brimmed hat, a linen coat blue or dark striped, vest, 
white shirt (seemingly of cotton,) open at the neck, around 
which was a colored handkerchief tied sailor fashion, the ends 
hanging down loose. His pants seemed of light fabric, checked. 
I could see his countenance plainly. It seemed, if anything, 
smiling, though there was something peculiar in its expression, 
as well as the attitude, for the figure seemed leaning its weight 
on one foot, its left hand resting on the hip, and the right arm 
hanging loosely by its side. The expression of the darkey was 
so peculiar— jaunty, saucy — and he looked full at me, that for a 
moment I was taken by surprise, — and, during that moment 



'NIGGER ON THE BRAIN.' 



35 



made the observations just recorded — but quickly recovering, I 
brought my piece to 'charge,' and called out — 

"Who comes there?" 

But no response was deigned by my darky visitor. I chal- 
lenged again, and again, with the same result, the object still 
retaining its position, and regarding me with the same compla- 
cent look — when my comrade, who heard my 6rst challenge 
came up, and inquired what the matter was, just as I was about 
bringing my piece to 'present' to fire. I pointed to the object 
of my challenging, who still kept his ground in the same position. 
He laughed at what he supposed was a joke I was trying to 




come on him — not being able to see anything in the spot I 
pointed out, — and resumed his beat. The thought then occurred 
to me for the first time that what I saw was not real. What 
then was it ? I asked myself. Surely I am not troubled with 
that disease known as 'nigger on the brain !' And I again 
leaned against the trunk of the fallen tree to think the subject 
over, all the while keeping my eyes fixed upon the object of my 
thoughts, which stood the scrutiny unmoved. Now, I am not 



36 FALSE WIZARD, AVAUNT ! 

superstitious by nature, and still less so by education and expe- 
rience, — and so I viewed the apparition without a particle of 
fear or awe, and tried to account to myself for its appearance in 
the most natural and rational manner. I came to the conclu- 
sion there and then, that want of rest and the stimulation of 
the coffee and tobacco I had been indulging in unduly excited 
my brain, which produced the hallucination, on the same prin- 
ciple that it is produced in certain stages of drunkenness, called 
delirium tremens. This was a very fair deduction ; but still 
in front of me stood the grinning darky, as plainly as before. I 
thought then I would test the unreality of the apparition in 
another way. If it were an optical -illusion, the figure must 
recede as I advanced, or follow as I retreated. I accordingly 
advanced towards it ; but, strange to say, it remained in the 
same spot, until I was within arm's length, when stretching forth 
my hand I grasped — nothing. I walked over the exact spot 
where the figure stood, and returned to my old stand, to be still 
more puzzled to see the figure in the same spot, with the same 
expression on its countenance, but with both arms hanging down 
by its side this time. More puzzled still, I retreated to see if it 
would follow ; but no — there it stood still gazing after me. I 
took three or four turns up and down my beat, and on each 
return to the fallen tree beheld the figure in the same position 
as last seen. 1 then halted, determined to watch if other changes 
would manifest themselves in shadowy being before me. My 
comrade came towards me again, and I reiterated my former 
tale of the apparition. Still he couldn't see it. But, as I was 
yet talking of it, and still persisting I saw it, the phantom darky 
disappeared — not suddenly, but seeming to melt away gradually. 

"He vanished in the darkness, like a beam 
Of cold, gray moonlight in a wintry stream." 

This is the first and only ghost I have ever had the pleasure 
of seeing, or, more properly speaking, fancying 1 saw. What 



EVANS' MILLS. 37 

caused its appearance I neither know nor care, and only relate 
the fact (or fancy) because I think it singular. 

On a Sunday morning, about 10 o'clock, we started for 
Evans' Mills, to relieve Co. E, which had overstayed their time 
one week — doubtless from the fact that a large orchard of apple 
trees was upon the plantation, the fruit of which was a luxury 
they were loth to leave — small blame to them. 

After a march of about two hours, we came out upon a clear- 
ing just beyond a continuation of the rebel line of defences to 
the right of the Beaufort railroad. Here we saw deserted houses, 
and a cotton gin ; but no living creature of the human or brute 
creation, and the place looked solitary and deserted enough — 
its own sad elegy of war written plainly in the solitude which 
brooded over the absence of those who once gave animation to 
the scene, and made ' the wilderness blossom like the rose' 
with fields of cotton and gardens of bright flowers. 

About a mile further on, after passing through a narrow 
belt of woods, we came out upon Evans' plantation. On our 
right was a field of some eighty acres, about half of which was 
covered with a young growth of apple trees. On the left was a 
field of about iwenty acres, at the further end of which was the 
plantation house, with its negro huts, surrounded with the inevi- 
table grove of elegant shade trees. Just opposite the front gate 
of the mansion, the road turned sharp to the right, and on look- 
ing ahead, we beheld a block-house, nearly completed, in the 
rear of which was the encampment, and our future abode. 
Upon reaching the block-house, the road took a turn to the left, 
down a short, steep hill, skirting the bank of a stream, which 
it crossed on a rude plank bridge, still turning toward the left. 
After crossing the bridge, a grist mill lay on the right, and about 
60 yards on the left, on the dam of a magnificent pond of water 
stood a large saw mill, which ran two sets of saws when in op- 
eration. It was then idle, the dam having broke away. The 



38 SWEET POTATOES AND A GOOD APPETITE. 

road, after crossing the flume of the grist mill led on to the 
negro village — quite a collection of comfortable houses — built on 
each side of the cross road, which led to Pollocksville. Just 
before coming on to the Pollocksville road, in a field to the right 
was a large cotton gin and press. At the intersection of these 
roads was our outpost in the day time, the guard being drawn 
in to the mills at night. 

The army wagons which accompanied, (with tents, cooking 
utensils, quartermasters' stores, company baggage, &c.,) arriving 
a few minutes after, the men soon had plenty to do in erecting 
tents, and fixing themselves as comfortably as circumstances 
would permit. There was a little board shanty with two bunks, 
lately occupied by the drummers of Co. E. To this my com- 
rade and I 'froze' ; and, having got our traps snugly bestowed — 
our guns and equipments slung up, and our blankets spread — 
we sallied forth in quest of plunder. 

Our first raid was upon the orchard near by ; but it had been 
picked bare. We, however, subjected every tree to a searching 
examination, and as the reward of our toil returned with about 
half a bushel of a apples. On our way back we passed through 
a small field of sweet potatoes, to which we returned with a 
sack, and soon were in possession of a bushel of very fine ones. 

During our absence, foraging, the tents had all been put up, 
and the men were busy arranging their traps. Charley (our 
French cook) had not been idle meantime, and had a blazing 
fire, and coffee ready. Procuring from him a pot, we soon had 
the satisfaction of seeing some of the sweet potatoes, the fruits of 
our late raid, smiling upon us, and welcoming us to the feast. 
Giving the cook a couple of good ones for his accommodation, 
we retired to our cabin with our coffee, sweet potatoes and 'salt 
horse,' and made one of the most hearty and satisfactory meals 
I have ever known. Appetite was our best sauce, exercise had 
sharpened it, and the new and palatable food agreed so well 



A LARGE TREE. 39 

with the disposition of the stomach, that it had ample satisfaction 
in embracing its best friend. 

After eating, with pipe lit, I started forth to take a view of 
the mansion house, and its surroundings. On entering the front 
gate, I was struck with the size and beauty of an immense beech 
tree, whose wide extending branches covered a circle of over 
100 feet in diameter— and, Yankee fashion, I immediately com- 
puted that if cut down it would make over five cords of fire- 
wood. It must have proved a cool and inviting shade tor the 
planter and his family in the summer time. Approaching its 
huge trunk, I observed that the Yankee jacknife had been at 
work and covered it with the representative names of men irom 
nearly every United States regiment that had ever been 
in the department. Besides the huge beech there were numer- 
ous other trees — elm, cedar, chaney — and the beautiful flower- 
ing althea. 

The house was an ordinary two story one, containing about 7 
rooms, set on brick blocks about three feet from the ground, 
and serving as a cool place of resort for the pigs, fowl, and 
youthful, curly-headed negroes, during the heat of the day. 
This, together with the plantation attached of some 10,000 acres, 
seven or eight hundred of which were cleared, together with the 
mills, and about 1 20 'head of darkies' (all of which excepting 
two old negroes and their wives, had been 'run up country'), 
belonged to a Mr. Evans, a son-in-law of Ex-Gov. Morehead, 
(after whom Morehead city had been named). 

Evans was, as I afterwards found, a very influential man in 
that part of the country, and had early become a convert to the 
doctrine of secession. He raised a company of cavalry, and 
equipped them at his own expense. He took part in the battle 
of Newbern, and it must have been a bitter trial for him to 
leave so fine a property, though I believe he had another plan- 
tation in the upper part of the State. The regiment to which 



40 THE FATE OF EVANS. 

his company was attached, remained for some time in the 
State, and had more than one encounter with our cavalry. 
They were, however, finally ordered to join the army of Vir- 
ginia, and were, no doubt, engaged in all its conflicts with our 
army. At the battle of Gettysburg, Evans, who had become a 
colonel, was wounded, taken prisoner, and died shortly after in 
hospital at Baltimore. 

Such has been the fate of an infatuated man, who, like thous- 
ands of others, left a prosperous and comfortable home tcrplunge 
in the suicidal fray against the Government under which he was 
reared and had prospered. He may have repented his folly 
when too late ; but I doubt it. Such men are as little given to 
repentance as they are to truth, justice and reason. 

At the back of the mansion house were two negro huts, where 
those who were domestics lodged. The body of the negroes 
were lodged in the village before mentioned about a mile away. 
Doubtless there was design in this — as the master of bondmen 
must have lived as insecure amongst his slaves as the tyrant 
in the midst of his vassals. 

Adjoining the negro-huts attached to the mansion were the 
various outhouses and stables, behind which the land sloped to 
waters of the tortuous stream which emptied into the mill-pond 
further down. 

To my view Evans' Mills at first appeared a lonely place ; 
but a further acquaintance with it materially altered my opinion. 
Were it not that the restraints which discipline imposes upon the 
soldier, living in this place would be quite agreeable. There 
was no lack of game of all kinds, from the red deer, the noctur- 
nally rambling coon and possum, to the partridge, wild pigeons, 
grouse, waterfowl, and fish. The latter were the only legitimate 
sport for the soldiers (and many a finny inhabitant ot those 
sluggish streams — though shy at times— graced his tin platter), 
as the necessities of war forbid the use of fire-arms upon any 



POSSUM UP A GUM TREE. 41 

other game than men (butternuts — and some of them mighty 
hard nuts at that). Occasionally; - however, the negroes, and 
such of the white inhabitants as were left behind 'when the 
rush of war was past,' with their coon dogs, and well provided 
with pine knots to guide them, would sally forth of a night and 
traverse the banks of the numerous streams and branches, 
and rarely would they proceed far until the peculiar bay of 
the dogs denoted that they had lit upon the track of a wary 
possum or coon, in the direction of which the hunters would 
hasten, to find the 'critter treed,' and if the tree was too large 
to cut down, one climbed, and with a club killed or dislodged 
him. A coon hunt has rarely been unsuccessful, from the great 
number of the 'animals' abounding, and the excellent training 
of the dogs, which seem to take after this kind of game as natur- 
ally as a cat takes after mice. 

The streams are generally belted with fine groves of cedar, 
gum, black walnut, locust, and ash trees, intermixed, the whole 
bearing their proportion of parasites, some of which entwine 
themselves so closely round the trees they select to climb on as 
almost to become incorporated with them in the process of time, 
and look like huge serpents endeavoring to crush out their life 
but they look beautiful in the summer time, covered with leaves 
and fruit (for they are not all poisonous or profitless), and many 
a bunch of rich, purple grapes has the writer purloined from 
the midst of those masses of tangled creepers. This interming- 
ling of hardwood trees with the evergreen pines had a pleasing 
effect upon me, as it recalled the remembrance of the northern 
forests where the pine, hemlock and spruce were often in the 
minority. 

Occasionally, however, the explorer of these Southern woods, 
would suddenlv come upon a cypress swamp, and he would 
there behold the incarnation of all that is dismal in a landscape, 
— especially if, as when I first beheld one, the time was just 



42 A CYPRESS SWAMP. 

before twilight, and the slanting rays of the sun had ceased to 
penetrate the masses of the forest foliage. A picture, however 
finely wrought, would fail to give an idea of the utter gloom and 
funereal solemnity of such a scene; and if any lover or hater of 
humanity should wish to seek a solitude where, unmolested, he 
could mourn over the wickedness and folly of mankind, and 
make himself thoroughly miserable, I would advise him to select 
a spot in full view of a cypress swamp, — and if he will not 
suffer enough, do enough penance, and weep enough to wash out 
and atone for the world's sins — his own included, — in the space 
of the twelve months, then it will not be the fault of the swamp, 
I can vouch. I do not wonder that the ancients, even aside 
from their superstitions, selected the cypress as an emblem of 
death and mourning — for no one can behold that tree in its na- 
tive solitude and state without thinking of all the friends he had 
lost, and would be likely to lose for the next hundred years. — 
Picture to yourself, gentle reader, the bed of a sluggish stream, 
enriched by the accumulations of vegetable mould for unknown 
ages, Until the water forced itself through a deep, narrow chan- 
nel, winding hither and thither ; that at a former indefinite 
period, the seeds deposited on this mould germinated, and there 
arose from its slimy depths, like ghosts that had 'burst their cere- 
ments,' the mighty cypress trees ; that they continued to grow 
slowly upward, but toward the base the trunks swelled to undue 
proportions like the paunches of gluttons — and undoubtedly the 
cypress is the glutton among trees, as its huge cone-shaped roots 
are well adapted to the ravenous absorption of air, and the rich 
liquified food that is forever in process of formation around and 
above them. And thus they tower up in the midst of their 
slimy abode, huge, bilious and bloated, and look like a grim 
array of fallen spirits, which, having attempted to cross into 
daylight, got stuck in the mud of their mythical Styx. 
Such is a cypress swamp. 



COMPANY K ITS OFFICERS. 43 

In nationality the men of Co. K comprised Americans, Cana- 
dians, Provincials, English, Irish, Scotch, French and Germans. 
In disposition and character, they were nearly as diverse as 
their nationality ; but taken as specimens of the countries they 
represented, were about as intelligent and respectable a body of 
men as could well be expected from such material. 

The Captain, Joseph R. Simonds, (for many years a book- 
binder in Spring Lane, Boston,) was a thoroughly patriotic and 
honest man, a good soldier, with many virtues, and a few faults 
and foibles (and what man has not these to a greater or less ex- 
tent.) He took great pride in the well-being and efficiency of 
his company ; and its good name, and the praise of his superiors 
for cleanliness, superiority in drill, or having a small sick-list, 
were to him matters of just pride and gratulation, — and fre- 
quently, after a creditable performance on drill or parade, he 
would snap his fingers with delight, and, after dismissal, invite 
them all to his quarters for a treat. He was careful about the 
quality of their food, and whenever he could (which was not 
often) would procure such articles of luxury and dietic change 
as would be most likely to promote health. He was uniformly 
kind, obliging and considerate, and did not look upon his men 
as mere pieces of mechanism that moved when he pulled the 
wires. He considered them men, — socially his equals, though in 
reality under his command, and, to a certain extent at his mercy. 
He rarely abused his authority — never maliciously ; and though 
he occasionally did injustice to some deserving men — it was, I 
think, more from an error of judgment than through design. 
Yet he was popular and unpopular with the men. Soldiers 
like sailors will grumble, and it is a privilege they often abuse ; 
but, the fit over, they all invariably acknowledged his worth, 
and disposition to treat them well. 

The first Lieut (J. A. Greeley) was of a quiet disposition, a 
strict (but not over strict) disciplinarian, and a man of consider- 



44 JESSE HITCHINGS— BILLY PATTERSON. 

able genius in engineering (he subsequently had the planning 
and superintendence of several fortifications near Newbern). 
He was a strict temperance man, and wished the men to prac- 
tice this virtue also. He has since been detached from the re<ji- 
ment, and commissioned captain in the 2d regiment of Heavy 
Artillery. 

But I cannot enumerate the names of all the company, — and 
will content myself with mentioning a few of the 'characters' — 
and the first that occurs to my mind is "old Jesse Hitchings" 
(forgive me, Jesse, for putting your name in print ; but you 
need be no more ashamed of it than you were of your old cap 
riddled by the enemy's bullets). Jesse was a character — a tall, 
thin old bachelor of over fifty — of a pleasant, benevolent dispo- 
sition, a gocd soldier, an uncompromising patriot (no comprom- 
ises with the rebels, was his motto) — and a successful hand at 
poker. It is related of Jesse, that when the company was doing 
picket duty at the Deep Gully, he lit a fire one night at the 
outpost, and when his time came to mount guard, leisurely 
walked up and down in front of the fire, giving the enemy's 
pickets a fair chance, if so disposed, to pick him off— and upon 
being warned of his danger, cooly replied — 

"Well, if I'm to be shot I'll be shot, I suppose — what's the 
odds." 

In camp, on guard, in the bivouac of the battle-field, where- 
ever there was a fire, Jesse could be seen at any hour of the 
night bending over the same, his chin resting between his knees, 
warming his long skinny hands — sometimes asleep ; but mostly 
half awake or dozing. Poor Jesse — he is one of the few sterling 
men who act well their part without ostentation, and are rarely 
noticed for their real worth. 

Another character was "Billy Patterson" (he was called 
"Billy," though his name was James). He was a hard-working, 
rough-spoken fellow (his general salutation being "G* along till 



'dickens' 'J. E. M.' 45 

haal wi' ye !") Billy, though a good soldier, and brave in ac- 
tion, did not like guard or picket duty— and, being an excellent 
cook, generally contrived by a species of finesse — not always of 
an unexceptionable character — to work himself into a good 
berth, -with pots for his jolly companions. Charley (our French 
cook) shortly after going to Evans' Mills fell sick, and Billy 
took his place — which he held afterwards for a long time, and 
flourished and bullied when sober, and when drunk abused 
every one — and gave the mess very good dinners. 

Sam Kenny was another whom I considered a character. He 
was nicknamed. * Dickens? being a great admirer of that author. 
'Dickens 'was an intelligent man, but fond of whiskey; and 
whenever he imbibed too much was sure to get in to some scrape 
or other, which generally ended in depositing him in the guard- 
house. It is related of him, that being one night in Newbern, 
on a ' bender,' he applied for admission into a house (where he 
was acquainted), but the lady noticing his condition, refused ; 
when, after repeated failures to get in, becoming convinced 
of the uselessness of any further trial, and by way of revenge, 
he put his mouth to the keyhole, and shouted — 

"I say, madam, do you chew snuff?" 

Now be it known that snuff chewing is quite a common prac- 
tice among the women in and around Newbern, and for aught I 
know is a regular Southern institution ; but those of any preten- 
sion to refinement never use it, or if they do, it is on the sly — 
and a greater insult could not be offered a woman than to ask 
her if she chewed snuff. 'Dickens,' no doubt, had his revenge. 

A young fellow, named J. E. Mills, had a mania for cutting 
his autograph upon trees, walls, fences, and objects in every 
place he visited. It is related that during a freshet, when a lot 
of logs in the river above the dam broke loose, every one of 
them contained one or more inscriptions of "J. E. M.," cut in 
with an axe or knife. 



46 STACK SMITH 'BEN DOSA. 

William Stack ' was a soldier every inch of him.' He had 
been in the British service over ten years, and served in I dia. 
His peculiarities were numerous ; but were redeemed by a strict 
integrity, a love of duty and a thorough knowledge of his busi- 
ness. I often wondered why men, his inferiors in many of the 
most essential qualifications of a soldier, were promoted over 
him, while he remained a private. He entertained a great ven- 
eration for the British army — aud thought the British soldier not 
only superior, but better paid, better clothed, and better cared 
for than the American soldier. He had a good memory, a rich 
fund of anecdote, and many a weary*hour has he beguiled by 
the relation of scenes and adventures in 'the land of the palm 
and the poppy.' 

John Smith was another who had served in the British army. 
He was a good soldier, an unpretending man, and the pertina- 
city with which he defended the government, (there are two 
parties in the army as well as here), his strong anti-slavery sen- 
timents when nearly all were down on the poor negro, and the 
confidence he felt in the ultimate success of our cause, even in 
the darkest hours when the general opinion prevailed that we 
could never whip the South, might well put to shame many of 
his American comrades, who often seemed to lose in their desire 
for peace, the consciousness that it was their's to dictate the 
terms to a beaten foe. The poor fellow has been taken prisoner 
— and is now in Dixie. 

Smith had a brother who was nicknamed l Ben-Doza.' 'Ben' 
was discharged in March, 1863, and I gave him a curious stick 
which I cut in one of the swamps to bring home for me. If this 
should meet his eye, I wish he would hasten to ' fork it over.' 

But lest I should become tedious and uninteresting, I will 
drop the biographical and take up the chronological thread of 
my yarn, noticing the different individuals as they may be 
brought by circumstances into future scenes. It is true that in 



'WHY DID YOU GO FOR A SOJER ?' 47 

speaking of the mere rank and file of the army, I do not write 
ot men known to fame. There is, indeed, little of romance 
connected with the private soldier — that peculiar species of 
flummery (which makes the heart of the dreamy damsel of six- 
teen, flutter so) being, as it were by right divine, the speciality 
of the ideal mustached, lightning-eyed, and so forth young 
men of the shoulder straps. Those I write of principally 
occupy, many of them, the humblest (though the most useful) 
position in our grand army. It is such men who do the real 
fighting, and have to take and give the hardest knocks — and 
if a score of those brave hearts are laid low by the hand of war, 
it creates not half as much public sensation as the destruction of 
an old barn by fire, or the escape of a negro from rebeldom. 
Their biography is written by the orderly sergeant in a few 
words, and their requiem sung by the turkey-buzzard out on a 
foraging expedition. Their names, it is true, are on the rolls of 
fame ; but who cares for these, except it be their immediate 
friends and relatives — and the clerks in the pension-bureau, who 
mayhap think it particularly unkind in privates A. B. or C. to 
die at all, and thus give them so much additional labor. 

Two brothers, named Tibbetts, living about three miles beyond 
o»r outpost, lost some hogs and cattle in a very mysterious way, 
and came into our lines to inquire if we knew anything of them. 
Of course we didn't, and Billy Patterson's pots never told tales. 
I entered into conversation with one of the brothers, who ap- 
peared to be a civil sort of a man, and who invited me among 
others to visit his house, saying that he had plenty of eggs, &c, 
and could get up a very good dinner for us. 

I remembered Tibbetts' invitation, and a few days after, ac- 
companied by a companion, started out to see him. He lived in 
a miserable log cabin, about 20 feet square, without windows, 
having shutters to supply their place at night, which were 
opened in the day time to adtniHight and air. A field of about 



48 A FAMILY OF 'POOR WHITES. 

25 acres surrounded the domicile, partly planted in corn and 
peas, with about three acres of sweet potatoes. And these, with 
a few pigs, and a small garden, constituted this family's whole 
'visible means of support.' The family consisted of a sallow, 
bilious-looking wife (all women thereabouts, as well as men, look 
alike) and a half-dozen sallow, bilious-looking children. (Nearly 
all the natives of that level, swampy region are thin, and have 
a shaky appearance.) 

I noticed, to my surprise, upon my first introduction to 
Madam Tibbetts, that a small stick protruded about two inches 
from her mouth, and that ever and anon she spat out what 
seemed marvellously like tobacco juice. I watched her move- 
ments for some time during our conversation, and I noticed that 
she occasionally removed the stick from her month, and, one end 
being made soft by chewing, dipped the same into a box of snuff, 
replaced it again, and ran it around her gums and teeth in 
the same manner as one would use a tooth-brush. I found that 
neither Tibbetts or his wife, nor his brother or sister (the lat- 
ter a smiling old maid) who afterwards joined us, could read or 
write — in fact it was considered quite out of their line alto- 
gether, though they seemed to regret that their children could 
not have some education. They were a fair specimen of that 
class of settlers at the South known as 'poor whites.' 

Being allowed, when off duty, a free range within the lines, 
our visits were made in all directions — sometimes (often, I con- 
fess) transgressing our orders, we went beyond, especially 
towards the abodes of the Messrs. Tibbetts — and we frequently 
stumbled upon a quiet household of 'poor whites,' who received 
us civilly, though by uo means graciously. All of these were, 
however, strongly 'secesh' in feeling, having had their minds 
pretty thoroughly poisoned with the false tales told them by their 
late 'superiors' of Yankee injustice and cupidity. 

In conversation with the elder Tibbetts, I learned that the 



A BEE HUNT. 49 

honey-bees often selected the trunks of hollow trees in which to 
gather immense deposits of honey, and that in going up a creek 
lately he had discovered a tree, which he intended visiting some 
time. The idea of a 'bee hunt' was novel to me, and I deter- 
mined to join him ; and, a few days after, with a comrade, 
started for Tibbetts' house, who readily undertook to pilot us 
upon our saccharine expedition. 

We were successful in getting a considerable amount of 
honey ; but staid out so late that the officers became alarmed at 
our absence, thinking we were 'gobbled up' by the 'rebs,' and 
doubled the guard, served out extra ammunition, &c.,' — and 
when we did come in at last, reprimanded us for staying out so 
long, and forbid any of the men going beyond the lines in 
future. 

Time wore on. At first we expected a recall at the end of 
each week after our time had expired, but no such order came, 
and as the season was beginning to wear the sear and yellow 
leaf in its garments, and the indications of cold weather warned, 
us that the time was at hand when 

"The wild deer and wolf to their covert" must "flee " 
we bethought us that the negro village might abound in material 
of which shanties might be erected, and, as Billy Patterson, 
elegantly expressed it, "be a d — d sight more comfortable than 
miserable." This bright thought was slow in spreading, and it 
was not until three or four men of a mess erected a snug shanty, 
that it took root and flourished— and then there was a rush for 
the 'diggins.' 

The shanties at the outpost, once the shelter of the humble 
household gods of many a smoky descendant of Ham, were 
threatened with disembowelment— until the fury of the onslaught 
was turned upon the cotton gin, which soon presented a skeleton 
appearance. The plundered boards and scantling had to be 
carried by the men half a mile. But they set to work 



50 THE VILLAGE OP 'A-SHANTEE. 

with a will. For at least two weeks nothing could be heard 
around the camp, from sunrise to the going down thereof, but 
hammer and saw, and saw and hammer, and from the promis- 
cuous heaps of purloined boards and scantling there arose in 
due time one of the most curious villages that could be met with 
outside of negrodom ; but they were as comfortable as could be 
desired, and well laid out with bunks, gunracks, &c. Each had 
a flue or chimney for a stove or fireplace, the bricks to build 
which had to be carried on the back, or wheeled by hand from 
a mile and a half to two miles ; and as wood was plenty, we 
never licked for good fires. Thus comfortably situated, it was 
no wonder that we became attached to Evans' Mills. 

It being designed to erect permanent barracks in the vicinity 
of Newbern, and the steam saw mill in that city proving insuffi- 
cient to supply enough lumber — workmen being plenty, a 
detail from any of the New England regiments supplying any 
number needed — it was resolved to repair the broken dam at 
Evans' Mills. A detachment of about sixty contrabands, under 
the superintendence of a sort of Baron Munchausen chap, a 
private in a New York artillery regiment — was sent to make the 
necessary repairs. 

The dam had broke away at the_waste water gate — and the 
genius who was sent to repair it, commenced by filling in the 
waste gate with brushwood and earth — and, after a month's 
labor, (costing the Government over $1,500), he succeeded in 
partially stopping the water, so that a few thousand feet of 
boards could be sawed ; but the first rain-storm swelled the dam 
so much that, having no proper outlet for the superabundant 
water to escape, it gave way, and the blundering fool and his 
work departed about the same time — the former to hospital 
sick, and the latter to be distributed along the oozy bottom of the 
tortuous creek which emptied into the Trent River. 

When the rebels were defeated at Newbern, Evans, like 



UNCLE GEORGE INDIAN JOE. 51 

other large planters, sent all his slaves to a plantation which he 
owned in the upper part of the State — that is, all who were 
worth sending, for he left two old negroes and their wives be- 
hind to 'take charge' of the plantation. These, in process of 
time, and the occupation of the place by our forces, were joined 
by others, until the negro population at the time our company 
went there, amounted to about ten, including picaninnies. The 
old negroes alluded to were called respectively, Old (Uncle) 
George, and Indian Joe. The former venerable old patriarch 
was " eighty-five, sar," communicative and religious, and the 
latter a cross between the Negro and Indian — retaining a good 
deal of the aboriginal physique and character — respectful, but 
retiring in his manner ; and, though said to be fully as old as 
George, was spry and supple, a good hand at a tar-kiln, and a 
keen sportsman, never going to the woods without being accom- 
panied by his dogs and an old Harper's Ferry musket — 

"For you know de coons come out sometimes 'fore dark, and 
de deer dey stray off up dar down here in de day, and dev's 
good eatin', I reckon, is dem deers." 

"I suppose you would not hesitate to pink a rebel if he should 
come across you instead of a deer, Joe ?" 

"Lor, yes — no — reckon — (scratching his head). O yes — ri»ht 
good day, sar — good morning, sar." 

I think he'd shoot— if the alternative was to shoot or be 
taken. 

The other contrabands were mostly runaways. One of 
them, a mulatto, was a good carpenter, a man of some intelli- 
gence, and interested me much. His story was simple, and 
illustrated the atrocious system, which subverts honor, and 
makes conscience a tool to be used as interest may dictate. He 
was 'raised' (that is the term, and sounds odd when applied to 
human beings) up country, and when his old master died he 
left him free ; but the son and heir not liking to lose a 'ri»ht 



52 A MULATTO'S TALE NERO. 

smart boy' of his description, "would not give him his freedom, 
but kept him as a slave, treating him precisely like the other 
bondmen. When the war broke out, his master, who resided 
or did business at Wilmington, joined the navy, as captain of a 
gunboat, and took this slave with him as his servant. After the 
battle of Roanoke, when our gunboats followed up and destroyed 
the rebel fleet, his master, when one of our gunboats ran into 
the one he commanded, deserted him, jumping overboard, to 
escape capture ; but, while in the water, a stray shot struck him, 
and he 'sank to rise no more.' The mulatto, glad of the change 
that gave him his liberty, accompanied our forces to Newbern, 
and there remained, entered the employ of the Government, and 
performed his part in a skillful and faithful manner. 

Another of the contrabands was a full-blooded African negro, 
bearing the classical name of Nero. He was from Duplin 
County, some ninety miles north of Newbern, and near the 
Virginia line, and had run away from a cruel master, as numer- 
ous scars on his person testified, travelling the entire distance 
on foot through woods and swamps, and subsisting upon an 
occasional ear of corn, for which he ventured into the fields 
only at night, eluding the rebel patrols and pickets, and, finally, 
almost exhausted and worn out, he arrived, with about five or 
six others from the same place, inside our picket lines, and gave 
himself up. He left behind him a wife and six children ; but 
notwithstanding this, and the stories he had heard of Yankee 
barbarity to runaway negroes (the slaves being generally told I 
that the Yankees placed iron rigs through the shoulder-blades 
of the darkies, and sold them off to Cuba), he was willing to 
run all risks for the bare chance of obtaining his liberty ; and, , 
he said, if the other slaves knew how well the contrabands were 
treated, they would come in in greater numbers. His simple 
story would fill an interesting volume. When Wild's brigade 
was subsequently organized, he joined the first regiment, and, I 



UNCLE GEORGE AGAIN. 53 

have no doubt, has proved himself a capital soldier. Wo to the 
rebels that fell in his power. He had many wrongs to avenge, 
and would avenge them, if opportunity offered. 

Uncle George was a good specimen of the ideal negro — fat, 
good-natured, and seemingly contented. 

"Well, uncle," I said, "how do you like the Yankees ?" 
"Right well, sar — dey's bery fine people, sar !" 
"Would you sooner be with the Yankees than the rebs ?" 
"O yes, sar ; (my name's George, sar) ; 'cause I'se a free man 
now, and dat's what I am now, sar." 

"You think you are free now, and that the Yankees made you 
free, do you ?" 

"O yes, sar," he replied, and then added, in a deeply impres- 
sive voice — "and I tank de Lord and you Yankees for dat. De 
ole man hab worked for many years — de good Lord he send 
me and the ole woman six sons and five daughters, and massa, 
he sell some off afore de war, take some away when de Yan- 
kees come — and now, de poor ole man and de poor ole woman 
am left all alone in de world ; but de good Lord send de Yan- 
kees, and dey make us free afore we die, and dat am payment 
enough for all ole George's work — bress de Lord, amen " 

George finding, I suppose, that I took an interest in him, and 
did not treat him as it might be inferred many would from their 
salutation of "Hello, old nig — how dye do" often visited our 
shanty at dinner-time, and we had always plenty of crackers 
and 'salt horse,' and an occasional pint of soup or coffee to spare 
him ; but the cook (Billy Patterson,) perhaps from pure good 
nature, took a fancy to old George, and he soon forsook our 
more humble board for the savory flesh-pots of Billy's cook- 
house, perfectly satisfied to be addressed as you 'd d old nig- 
ger,' so long as he had his revenge in the shape of a plentiful 
supply of good grub. 
I stated before that the outpost guard was drawn in at night 



54 NEGRO AMUSEMENTS. 

to the mills (the day-guard at the mills being camp-guard at 
night). A few darkies, who worked for the government making 
tar and cutting saw logs, lodged in the mill. Without educa- 
tion enough to read, without the knowledge of the commonest 
accessories of amusement, it cannot be wondered that the time 
hung heavily upon their hands; but their naturally elastic tem- 
peraments stood them in good need, and suggested a species of 
amusement to pass away the time that was best suited to their 
capacity, viz. : dancing and its promoter, 'jigging' — a species 
of vocal and pantomimic music almost peculiar to the African 
race. At first their levees were attended only by gents of color ; 
but, by and by, the spirit of their performances began to spread, 
and soldiers from the relief guard and the camp visited them, 
and enjoyed hugely the sight of the dancing, sweating darkies, 
(encouraging and applauding the most expert — and there were 
many supple legs and nimble feet among them), and the equally 
sweating and nimble 'jiggers' or time-beaters. The 'jiggers' 
did not always depend upon the voice, but used it as a sort of 
auxiliary or flourish to their time-beating, which latter was per- 
formed by striking the open hands upon the thighs, legs and 
breast, and together in rapid succession, and in admirable mea- 
sure, so that the tune thus beat could be followed by the dancer 
as precisely as if played upon a full band. 

We had a Maryland negro in our company, who ran away 
from his master, and became attached to the regiment in Balti- 
more. He was called 'Pomp' — a lithe, supple fellow — and, with 
a few months training, I have no doubt, would equal, if not 
surpass, some of the clog-dancers of our friends the Morris 
Bro's. It was amusing to note the patronizing airs he adopted 
towards the North Carolina 'nigs,' and, I presume, the circum- 
stances of his having come from Maryland, and being so long 
in the army, added not a little to obtain for him a certain kind 
of prestige among his simple sable brethren. The soldiers for 



POMP OF COMPANY K. 55 

amusement taught him the manual of arms, and so naturally 
did he take to the business that it was a common remark among 
the men that there were few better drilled men in the command 
than Pomp. But Pomp became lazy and independent, and left 
the company shortly after we went to Evans' Mills to work for 
Government. But his mind was not in work, and after a few 
weeks labor he went to Newbern, and there became attached to 
a company of the 43d Mass. regiment, as Captain's servant. 
This captain (I know not his name, or I should record it, to his 
credit), taught him as well as some other negroes, to read and 
write ; and, when the policy of the Government, directing the 
enlistment of the blacks, reached North Carolina, Wild's bri- 
gade began to be formed, Pomp was among the first to enlist, 
and, for his proficiency in drill, and quickness for military 
duty, he was made a sergeant in the North Carolina colored 
regiment. 

"I've been made free by de President of my country," he said 
to me, when I met and congratulated him upon joining the 
army, "and I tink it is my duty to fight for de country dat 
makes me a free man." 

This regiment afterwards bore a prominent part in the unfor- 
tunate battle of Olustee, Florida. I wonder if poor Joe (he 
changed Pomp to Joseph) escaped. 

On the 28th of August, the 17th reg't embarked on transports 
for the purpose of capturing Plymouth ; but upon arriving 
opposite that town, found the place too well defended to warrant 
a landing, and they returned without disembarking. 

On the 30th of October, the 17th regiment left Newbern on 
board steamers, and proceeded up the Neuse River about eight 
miles, where they were joined by cavalry, artillery, and a large 
baggage train, the whole under command of Colonel Amory. 
They landed and marched to Swift Creek, a small settlement 
eight miles distant, which was reached at sundown. Here they 



56 THE TARBORO' EXPEDITION. 

were Bred upon by the rebel cavalry picket, who had destroyed 
the bridge over the creek. They fled upon our approach. The 
following forenoon was employed by our forces in building the 
bridge, and at noon the column was again in motion towards 
Washington, N. C, which our forces reached on the evening of 
November 1st, without molestation. 

November 2d, the line of march was again continued, (our 
forces being augmented by the addition of several thousand in- 
fantry,) in the direction of Williamston. Towards sundown 
the advance came up with the enemy* posted behind entrench- 
ments, at a place called Rawle's Mills, who disputed their pas- 
sage ; but our forces soon compelled them to retreat, and the 
following morning the advance again continued on to Williams- 
ton, which place the column reached at noon, having marched a 
distance of twenty-three miles from Washington. Leaving the 
sick and foot-sore on board the gunboats in the river, the troops 
marched out of the town about three miles, and bivouacked for 
the night. 

November 4th, they took up the line of march for Hamilton, 
within two miles of which they were obliged to halt for several 
hours to build a bridge, near which was a deserted breastwork, 
leading from the woods across the main road to a fort on the 
river bank. Hamilton was reached about sundown, and, like 
Williamston, was found entirely deserted. The town being set 
on fire by the troops, the sick were placed on board gunboats, 
and the expedition marched out of Hamilton several miles, and 
bivouacked for the night. 

November 5th, they started early in the morning, taking the 
' roai to Tarboro' — marched until night, when they came to a 
halt, and bivouacked within nine miles of Tarboro'. The fol- 
lowing morning they commenced their return march, not having 
met with the enemy in any force. A heavy rain having set in, 
the roads were in a bad condition, and the marching much 



NEWBERN THREATENED. 57 

harder than it had been previously. The expedition reached 
Hamilton late in the afternoon, and took up their quarters for 
the night in the deserted dwellings. 

November 7th, a violent snow storm raged in the morning, 
but it did not delay the march, which was continued for Wil- 
liamston, by a road leading near the river, and which they had 
not travelled before. No force of the enemy appeared to inter- 
rupt the march, and the expedition reached Williamston in the 
afternoon, where it remained until the morning of the 9th, 
when the line of march was taken up for Plymouth, N. C, a 
distance of twenty-three miles. They reached the latter place 
the next morning, 10th, and Newbern on the 11th, at noon, 
having been absent thirteen days, and having marched about 
150 miles. The expedition captured about 50 prisoners, 400 
horses and mules, and about 100 teams. 

The failure of this expedition, and the causes of its failure, 
are pretty well known, and need no comment from me, save 
that it caused much hardship to the troops comprising it, and 
left Newbern in an almost defenceless state. The rebels, judging 
that the garrison of the city had been largely drawn upon (but 
never dreaming that this was the case to so great an extent), to 
divert, perhaps, whatever after purposes our commanders had, 
and to make them recall the troops as fast as possible, sent a 
weak force to demonstrate in front of Newbern. This drove in 
our pickets, and created the utmost apprehension in the city. 
The case seemed critical, and every available man was called 
inside the defences to await the onslaught of the enemy. 

Our company (the remainder of the regiment being in the 
expedition,) received hurried orders to report in Newbern, and 
rumors coming in heralded the enemy as advancing upon the 
city in large numbers. The order to pack up and be ready to 
march at a minute's warning, was received by us just as we 
were 'turning in/ and was not very welcome news you may be 



58 A MARCH IN THE DARK. 

sure, but to hear was to obey ; and in half an hour we were 
ready for the road, and some talked of the morrow, what the 
'row' was all about, whether we should have a fight, and others 
(myself among the number) went to bed and slept. About 
three o'clock in the morning I was aroused from a pleasant sleep 
by my comrades, and heard all around me the hurried tramp of 
men. Hastily putting on my knapsack, I seized my gun, and 
went forth to take my place in the line. The night was foggy, 
and a feeble moon, while it brightened the obscurity a little, lent 
to the half" distinct scene a dreary and confused appearance. A 
few men had been detailed to destroy the bridge ; and the 
strokes of the axe, the falling of the planks and beams into the 
water, the hum of the camp — its lights glancing to and fro, con- 
trasted with the solemnity of the surrounding silence (which 
only echoed noises of our hasty departure, or the hoot of the 
owl) left a cheerless impression on my mind. 

After a march of two hours, we reached our' old camp tired 
and exhausted, to be refreshed by a good dipper of coffee. 

The morning advanced but the rebels came not ; and as rein- 
forcements arrived by the railroad from Beaufort, all apprehen- 
sions of the result of an attack upon the city died out, and the 
day wore away without any demonstration being made against 
any part of our lines. Indeed, word came in from our scouts, 
that the rebels had fallen back, satisfied, no doubt, with having 
carried out their design of creating a diversion, which would 
serve to hasten the recall of the expedition. 

In the evening we received orders to return to Evans' Mills, 
which place we reached by nightfall. 

What must have been the surprise and dismay of the darkies 
to work on the mill-dam (who knew nothing of our departure 
during the night, although we made noise enough to rouse the 
'seven sleepers') upon waking in the morning to find the bridge 
destroyed and the camp deserted. We were told that they no 



SKEDADDLE OF DARKIES. 59 

sooner heard of our departure — and the reports, greatly exagge- 
rated, no doubt, of a rebel' attack upon Newbern — than, con- 
sidering it was 'all up' with them, they scattered, and made for 
the woods — 'every man for himself, and the devil take the hind- 
most.' Some of them turned up in the vicinity of Newbern, 
others made their way to Morehead City and Beaufort, while 
others were never heard from, and these, it was thought likely, 
being too frightened to venture out in the clearings, supposing 
the whole country again in possession of the rebels, were starved 
to death, or lost their way, and came out somewhere in Dixie — 
no doubt into the lion's mouth they were trying to avoid. 

Poor unfortunates, the sport of every varying breeze of 
fortune, good or ill. The best fortune for them is as yet but in- 
different, while ill fortune is death. They are, alas, no 'chosen 
people of God.' They have no Moses to organize and lead them 
out of their land of bondage; no cloud by day or pillar of 
fire by night to guide them ; no ark of their freedom's covenant 
around which to rally [yes, the starry flag is their ark, and, 
thank Heaven, wherever it waves over them they are free!] 
No miracles are vouchsafed for their preservation ; no manna 
from heaven ; no quails ; no water gushing from the rock to 
assauge their thirst. Alas! alas! that their pathway to freedom 
should be beset with so many dangers — that its course should so 
often lead them through the valley of the shadow of death! 
Poor creatures! heaven help them through the fiery ordeal in 
which they are passing! 

The old darkies, however, belonging to the mill, together with 
the others who had not been there when we came, did not ske- 
daddle ; but, by turns, kept a good look-out on the Pollocksville 
road, ready, of course, to leave at the approach of the rebels, 
though determined not to do so until they hove in sight. Old 
George took charge of our camp, closed every door, and when 
we returned, every article we were forced to leave behind, even 



60 ORDERED TO NEWBERN. 

to the smallest and most trivial, remained just as we had 
left it. 

Back once more in our comfortable quarters, and resuming 
our old routine of duty, we began to think that we were as 
good as settled for the winter. Our old pastimes were revived 
— rambling, fishing, quoit pitching playing cards, backgammon, 
and draughts. The same' huge fires were kindled and burned 
brightly in front of our quarters, and at the outposts, for the 
guards to warm themselves by in the dreary watches of the 
chilly night, around which, before retiring to rest, groups of 
smoking men assembled, and spun many a yarn of strange ad- 
venture in all lands, from the orient to the Occident, and from 
the frozen regions of the north to the trackless southern seas — 
mostly true, I believe, but surely entertaining. 

This state of affairs lasted a few weeks longer, when suddenly 
we received orders to rejoin the regiment, which took the place 
of the Mass. 23d in doing the provost duty at Newbern. This 
was about the 20th of November. To some this change was 
delightful, while to others (and 1 was one of these) it was not a 
welcome change. But we packed up — this time with more 
deliberation — and the next morning when Co. A, 23d regiment, 
Captain Brewster, came to relieve us were ready to evacuate, 
leaving everything connected with the camp to our successors, 
in apple-pie order. I wish they could (or did) return the com- 
pliment ; but they did not, and were so 'put out' about being 
put out of Newbern, that they vented their spleen upon the luck- 
less houses occupied by them as quarters, smashing up every 
thing that might conduce to the comfort of their successors. 

Our quarters were on Pollock street, near the market and 
the office of the Provost Marshal. Co. B's quarters adjoined 
ours, and F occupied quarters on the other side of the street 
nearly opposite. After considerable labor in sweeping, scrub- 
bing, making bunks, &c, we became settled down once more, 



DELIGHTS OP PROVOST DUTY. 61 

comfortable enough. But our duty was no child's play. We 
were on guard every second day — the intermediate one being 
filled up (twice a week) by a march of six miles and a brigade 
drill of three hours or more. This did not leave much time to 
ourselves, after cleaning boots, polishing brasses and buttons, 
and brushing clothes, for we had to appear neat and tidy while 
on duty. 

A provost guard is a kind of police-soldier, and his duties 
are as multifarious as the character of his office and power 
is indefinite. His instructions vary in detail from day to day ; 
and, before he goes on duty for the day has a string of orders 
and regulations, as long as the laws of the Medes and Persians, 
read to him, often couched in language that could be defined 
to mean one thing or another, or nothing at all in particular. 
For example, the guard is told to examine all passes and salute all 
officers ; to permit no fast driving; to allow no soldier or man-o'- 
war sailor to go by him unless provided with passes properly 
countersigned ; to allow no citizen to pass after a certain hour, 
without a special permit from the provost marshal ; to 'jug' 
every negro found out after 9 p.m. ; to allow no citizen or negro 
to be abused ; to allow no breach of the peace ; to permit no 
horses to be tied to trees ; to stop all disturbances whatever in- 
doors or out of doors ; to, in fact, keep his eyes 'peeled,' and be 
continually on the alert, and, if possible, do all the impossible 
thinos required of him. Four hours on post (and twice posted) 
performing this delightful duty, was required of the man detailed 
for guard. The accommodations at the guard-houses were 
abominable. The windows were broken, the bunks smashed up, 
poor fires, and the floors so dirty, and the cricks and crevices 
around so filled with vermin that one night's experience in the 
endeavor to get rest in them was generally sufficient to deter 
most of those who still retained the idea that cleanliness was a 
virtue from ever attempting the like again. 



62 THE MARINES THEIR WRONGS. 

Major Frankle of the 17th regiment was Provost Marshal, 
and was a worthy successor of Col. Kurtz, of the 23d (now 
Chief of Police in Boston.) 

I cannot enter into a relation of all the incidents which enliv- 
ened the monotony of our provost duty in Newbern, not from 
lack of good material — that would, perhaps, make thirty or 
forty pages of readable matter, but want of space admonishes 
me that it will not pay. Suffice it to say that, with forty or fifty 
thousand men in the department, a large proportion of whom 
were in the vicinity of Newbern — the 17th had their hands full, 
and the lock-up often became overcrowded, as did the jails in 
time. We had drunken men to arrest — street rows to quell, 
horse-racings, shootings and stabbings to look after — brawls in 
bad houses to put a stop to, and arrest drunken and half-crazed 
men armed to the teeth, and other duty of a no less dangerous 
character to perform. But I believe we did things 'up to the 
handle ;' in fact Pm certain we did — notwithstanding there 
were many complaints (as there always must be in such cases) 
and criticisms of our method of procedure. 

To add to our already heavy labor, shortly after we were in 
the city, the marine battalion (which I have before incidentally 
spoken of,) had refused to do further duty, and were placed in 
our custody. These gallant fellows had been shamefully used. 
When enlisted in New York city, they were promised $18 per 
month for the privates, or sailors, and pay in proportion for the 
petty officers. They had been in the service over a year, had 
not received any pay, clothing, or allowances for the same, and 
were informed that they would not be recognized in any other 
capacity than soldiers, with whom they must consider themselves 
on an equal footing in pay, as in all other respects. . Consider- 
ing this a violation of agreement, they refused as a body to 
shoulder a musket or do any kind of duty, and thus passively 
mutinied. The men of the 17th pitied the poor fellows, and 



FIN* AND THE MAJOR. 63 

showed them many acts of kindness. The Major, too, while he 
had to enforce their imprisonment, sympathized with the ma- 
rines, and, I have reason to believe, did all in his power to have 
their just claims considered, and their wrongs righted ; but the 
knot on the 'red tape' which bound the poor fellows could not 
be opened, and it was not cut. So, after a two month's impris- 
ment, they were given the choice of servitude in the forts as 
criminals, or the alternative of enlisting in the navy, and they 
wisely accepted the alternative. I think their's was a case of 
peculiar hardship. Some of those human kites which abound in 
large cities started the project of their enlistment, without the 
approval of the Government, made money out of the affair, and 
left their victims to curse them for many a weary heartburn, 
many an anxious, hopeless thought of home, and of a perhaps 
destitute family. 

One of Co. K's men, named Finn, at one time a guard over 
the marines, allowed two of them to go out to purchase some- 
thing at the market, but the Major, somehow, discovered the 
charitable error, and rushing up to the guard, said : 

"Vat for you let ze marines go away V" 

"But they'll come back again, sir." 

"O — fool — fool —I vill have you put under arrest and court- 
mars/W /" 

Soon after the marines returned, and Finn, who caught sight 
of the Major passing, sung out — 

"They're back again, Major! The marines" — 

But the Major, who was in a hurry, passed him by, angrily 
exclaiming — 

"O fool— fool -o-h block-head!" 

"Be jabers," said Finn, looking after the Major, but taking 
care he was not heard by that officer, — "ye're the first man that 
ever called me so far out of my name that I didn't lay on the 
broad of his back!" 



64 the 23rd and 24th regiments. 

'There were four other Massachusetts regiments in the depart- 
ment, viz :— the 23d, 24th, 25th, and 27th. 

The 23d regiment, Col. Kurtz, was recruited in Lynnfield, 
which place it left for Annapolis, Md., on the 11th of Novem- 
ber, 1861, and reached there on the 16th ; and on January 6th, 
1862, embarked upon transports as a portion of Gen. Burnside's 
Expedition to North Carolina. 

The regiment, after encountering the fearful storms offHatter- 
as, was among the first to land on Roanoke Island, and in the 
engagements which followed bore a conspicuous and honor- 
able part. It then accompanied the expedition up the Neuse, 
and took an active part in the battle of Newbern (March 14th, 
1862), where it lost ten killed (including its Lieut. Colonel, 
Merritt) and forty-one wounded. 

The 23d afterwards did picket duty, and took part in nearly 
all the expeditions into the interior and along the sea-coast. 

On May 7th, the 23d relieved the 25th Mass. regiment doing 
provost duty in Newbern, where it continued until Nov. 20th, 
when it was in turn relieved by the 17th. 

In January, the 23d formed part of the expedition to South 
Carolina, but did nothing, owing to a misunderstanding between 
Gens. Foster and Hunter, and returned, in April to North 
Carolina, and encamped at a place called Carolina City, near 
Morehead City. 

Later it was transferred to Norfolk, and, I believe, is at pre- 
sent in that portion of the department. 

The 23d bears the reputation of being a good regiment, and 
stands high on the roll of honor. Success to the old 23d. 

The 24th Mass. regiment, Col. Stevenson, was recruited at 
Readvllle, and formed part of the Burnside expedition to North 
Carolina, and in the battles of Roanoke Island and Newbern, 
acted a conspicuous and noble part. This regiment, in common 
with others, had its share of marching on expeditions and doing 



the 25tii and 27th regiments. 65 

picket duty (in which it had several sanguinary engagements 
with the enemy, who were invariably defeated). It accompa- 
nied C4en. Foster to South Carolina, where it has added fresh 
laurels to its name, as well as in Florida, where it remained until 
April last. The 24th is a splendid regiment. It is now in the 
army of the Potomac, and has shared in the triumphs which 
have at length rewarded that long-suffering but noble and brave 
army — that has at length came 'out of the wilderness.' 

The 25th regiment, Col. Upton, was raised in the western 
part of the State, and left Camp Lincoln, Worcester, to join 
Burnside, and take part in his expedition. Little need be said, 
save that this regiment has inscribed on its banners such names 
as 'Roanoke Island,' 'Newbern,' 'Kinston,' 'Whitehall,' 'Golds- 
boro,' &c, &c. This regiment did the first provost duty in North 
Carolina. *£ he 25th has taken part — together with the 23d and 
27th — in the late brilliant advance of Gen. Butler on Richmond, 
where it has come in for its share of glory and hard knocks. 

The 27th, Col. Lee, was also raised in the western part of 
the State, and left Springfield Jan. 6th, and joined Burnside's 
troops at Annapolis, Md. The 27th shared in all the battle?, 
marches, and picket-skirmishes in North Carolina. In fact, the 
history of one of these regiments is the history of the whole. 
All, alike, have a glorious record, and have earned the same by 
the hardest kind of fighting, marching and suffering. 

In October, the first of the nine months regiments began to 
arrive. The 44th was, I believe, the first of these — a fine-look- 
ing body of men ; but seeming more like a regiment of officers 
than soldiers. Their style of dress, though about the same as 
the 'regulation,' varied in being of a much finer texture, and 
containing, at least, two more buttons on the tails of their dress 
coats than the regulation allowed to privates. (Orders were 
issued during our stay in the city to cut off the extra buttons, 
and much ill-feeling was created by the remorseless cur-ta#-ment 
5 



Q6 THE NINE-MONTHS MEN THE 44TH. 

practiced by the men of the Seventeenth towards their fel- 
low-soldiers of the 44th.) Some of the men, too, seemed to 
possess a consciousness of their superiority, induced, no doubt, 
by their fancied higher social standing at home, and passed the 
poor three-years men with the same patronizing and patrician 
air, their eye-glasses clasped upon their noses in the same man- 
ner, as when strutting amid their fathers' workmen in Massachu- 
setts, or when promenading the thoroughfares, and ogling the 
girls (beg pardon, young ladies) at home. It is true they were 
civil, and mostly well-behaved young men ; but their civility, 
though well intended, was bestowed with a hauteur which had an 
opposite effect, and left rankling in the minds of their less 
favored comrades (all soldiers are comrades) a feeling of envy 
and, perhaps, disgust. Undoubtedly, there were men in this 
regiment of a very high order of intellect ; but there was a 
class among them -composed of puny clerks and school-boys, 
whose notions of the world and what constituted a man were 
about as crude as those of any apron-string hero could be ; 
and it was the influence of this class operating as the represent- 
ative of that better and really respectable one whose good sense 
kept it in the background, which caused this regiment to be 
unjustly criticised and hated — and by none more than its co-nine 
months comrades of other organizations. To show how pre- 
judice will jump at conclusions, it was confidently predicted 
they would never stand fire ; but they did stand fire bravely, 
and acted in many respects in a most creditable manner for so 
new an organization. A story went the rounds, and which may 
not be true, to this effect: — On theTarboro expedition, the 44th 
were in the advance, when the cavalry, after waking up the 
rebs, and finding them in large force ahead, fell back, and their 
lieutenant (Mix), seeing no one taking the necessary steps in 
such an emergencj', rode up to the captain of an advance com- 
pany of the 44th, and said j 



the 44th. 67 

"Deploy your men, captain ; the rebs are close upon us !" 

To which the captain replied — 

"I don't know how !" 

"Then," replied Mix, "right about, and run like hell, or you'll 
be gobbled up!" 

Again, at the battle of Kinston, it was said that the 44th who 
were laying down, were ordered to charge the rebel line, which 
had begun to waver and show signs of weakness ; that they 
refused, and the 10th Connecticut (three hundred strong) Avere 
ordered up, charged upon the rebels, and, in charging, had to 
walk over the prostrate 44th. I give this story without vouch- 
ing for its truth ; for, being in another part of the field, I had 
not an opportunity of witnessing the inception of the charge 
referred to, though, arriving with our regiment near the bridge 
by the flank ahead of the main charging column, I had an 
opportunity of seeing the 44th come up at the double-quick 
close on the heels of the flying rebels. But the story was told, 
and told, too, on the battle-field. 

At Whitehall, however, no envious tongue could say aught 
against the conduct of this regiment ; and I can here speak of 
what I saw of them, and can say they acted well under the 
murderous fire to which they were exposed. 

Another anecdote of the 44th, and I have done with them; 
and, lest I might be accused of harboring any of that feeling 
towards them I have already alluded to as prevailing in the 
department, and which I most heartily condemn, I will state 
that I do not believe one word of it, and only give it a place here 
to show how far human malignity and envy will make men for- 
get what is due to self-respect and toco-laborers in a good work. 
During the siege of Little Washington, it was stated that the 
rebels sent in a flag of truce, requesting the commander of the 
post to send the women and children, and the A4th, to a place of 
safety, as they were going to assault the town. 



68 the 5th, 45th and 43rd. 

The 5th regiment came about the same time the 44th did. 
They were a fine, hardy-looking set of men, and participated 
with credit in all the expeditions undertaken during their term 
of service in this portion of the department. 

The 45th regiment was the next— a fine body of men ; but 
they, too, like the 44th seemed to assume too much importance, 
and came in for their share of ill-will ; but, speaking trom my 
own knowledge, I never knew of but one instance in their whole 
career where they did not seem to be up to the mark, and this 
time from no fault of the rank and file. The fault, if any, lay 
with the officers. I allude to a little affair at a place called 
Cole Creek, on the railroad towards Kinston, in May '63, where, 
by the Colonel of the 45th outranking our Lt. Col., the regiment 
had the advance, and when it came in sight of an earthwork 
manned by a few rebs, the Colonel anxious for his men, and not 
wishing to be precipitate, seemed to hesitate. Colonel Fellows 
riding up, asked him why he did not advance on the enemy's 
work, replied that he thought it too strong. 

"Allow me," said Colonel Fellows, "and I will take it with my 
two flank companies." 

The consent was obtained, and companies A and F of the 
17th walked into the works, which had been hastily abandoned 
on their approach by the rebels. As I said before, this result 
was no fault of the rank and file of the 45th, whom I have seen 
marchiog in under fire, with ranks precisely dressed up, and 
acting with coolness and intrepidity. 

The 43d seemed the favorite regiment with the three-years 
men, who regarded it as the best of the nine months men. 
They were, indeed, a fine lot of men, and, I have no doubts if 
circumstances placed them in the post of danger, they would 
prove themselves fully as reliable as the three-years troops. 
In saying this, it will, of course, be inferred, that I do not con- 
sider the nine-months men as reliable in an emergency as the 



FEELING OF THE OLD REG'tS FOR THE NEW. 69 

three-years men ; and, I do not think them so, generally speak- 
ing — not because the men are inferior in regard to courage or 
endurance ; but because they are not really soldiers but militia, 
and not so self-reliant as the three-years men.. 

Of the other nine months men I know but little, save that 
they were a fine lot of men, and if they did not do anything 
to distinguish themselves, it was no fault of theirs, but because 
they lacked the opportunity. 

A few words in regard to the feeling of v the three-years men 
towards the nine-months troops. The men of the old regiments, 
almost to a man (but there were some exceptions) seemed to 
regard them with a feeling of envy and dislike, and the 
frequent salutations of 'how are you, three hundred dollars and 
a bugle ?' partly showed from whence the dislike came. I say 
partly, for the other reason was, that, besides receiving so high a 
bounty, they could return at the end of their time of service, — 
which to men who had already served eighteen months, and 
still had a year and a half to serve, seemed unfair. And cer- 
tainly, looking at the matter with their eyes, the thing did 
not seem altogether right, though it might very properly be 
argued that as the three-years men went into the service with 
their eyes open, and agreeing to the terms of the Government, 
they had no right to complain. 



PAET II. 

EXPEDITION TO GOLDSBORO SKIRMISHING SOUTHWEST CREEK 

BATTLES OF KINSTON, WHITEHALL, AND GOLDSBORO IN- 
CIDENTS—RETURN OF THE EXPEDITION TO NEWBERN THE 

17TH RELIEVED BY THE 45TH IN NEWBERN ACROSS THE 

TRENT BUILDING FORTS SICKNESS BEAUFORT AN AC- 
COUNT OF THE FREEDMEN, ETC., ETC. 

The indulgent reader, who has accompanied me thus far in 
my perigrinations through Dixie, need not be alarmed, upon 
looking at the caption of this page, at the prospect of being 
bored with so many dry, solid pages as he has waded through in 
tLe first part of this work. I have prepared this literary feast, 
if not of the best materials (and I have no better, I assure you), 
at least after the most approved style of French cookery, and, 
therefore, have kept back the best dishes to the last. It is in 
this second part of my humble work, that I hope to give the 
most stirring (I might say thrilling) and interesting part of my 
narrative of 

"Moving accidents by flood and field," — 

and, if I do not succeed to my own satisfaction, I hope, at least, 
to give satisfaction to my patrons. This done, I can pocket the 
profits with a clear conscience. 



EXPEDITION TO GOLDSBORO. 71 

In November, 1862, when the nine-months troops had about 
all arrived, the work of brigading them with the old regiments, 
and drilling them in field movements, was undertaken and vig- 
orously prosecuted. 

Preparations on a scale of considerable magnitude for a lar«e 
expedition had been going on for some time ; but to what 
point it was destined was wisely kept a secret, though it was 
generally understood to have some connection with the move- 
ment of Burnside in Virginia. 

On the 8th of December, the war-worn veterans of General 
Wessel's brigade (of Gen. Peck's division) arrived in Newbern, 
and preparations for the expedition were hastily completed. 
The same evening, at dress parade, an order was read from 
Gen. Foster to all the regiments, to be ready to march in thirty- 
six hours in light marching order, viz. : without knapsacks, car- 
rying only blankets and overcoats, with three days cooked 
rations to be carried in haversacks, seven days' to be conveyed in 
wagons. 

The following day was a busy one for the quartermasters of 
the Subsistence Department, and the cooks. In the evening 
the guards were withdrawn, and the 8th Mass. regiment, which 
had not yet been fully provided with arms and equipments, took 
charge of the city, and sent out details of men to patrol the 
streets. 

This was a busy night for us all. Like sailors before a storm, 
we had to make snug our tackle, and spread only as much "sail 
as we thought the ship could conveniently carry. Everything 
in the shape of spare clothes and blankets were snugly packed 
in our knapsacks; and, when the final order came for us to be 
in line at three o'clock in the morning, we were ready at the 
moment to start. But we visited Billy Patterson, and each man 
proceeded to stow away into his haversack what he judged 
would be sufficient to subsist him for three days. We then 



72 DEPARTURE 'NEBBER MIND DE CLOSE !' 

turned in, to gain a little repose and freshen our energies against 
the morrow. 

At three o'clock on the morning,of Thursday, Dec. 11, 1862, 
we were awakened by the bugle call, and after a hasty meal, 
formed in the yard of our quarters, and proceeded to the place 

of rendezvous for the regiment on street. A gray, frosty 

mist enveloped the city, which was alive with marching men, 
horse, foot, and artillery, and forage and ambulance trains. As 
early as was the hour, however, the whole population— especially 
the negro portion — seemed abroad in the streets, and many a 
fervent prayer and good wish for our success were showered 
upon us by the poor negro women as we passed along. 

"Oh," exclaimed one, "I know de Lord am walkin' alongside 
ob you, and you will beat de rebs, I knows — I knows!" 

"Aunty," sang out a soldier from the ranks, "if I don't come 
back you'll never get paid for them clothes you washed for me." 

"Nebber mind de close, honey," exclaimed the generous old 
woman ; and then, changing her tone, she continued, as if to 
herself— "Oh, Lord » — de Lord! — Oh good Lord! — Nebber come 
back! — Oh, de poor sojer! — Lord, help de poor sojer! Amen 
for de poor sojer! — Amen! Glory!" 

We halted on the Trent road, just beyond Fort Totten, and 
awaited the movement of the various bodies of troops that were 
t o precede us. 

The morning broke clear and cool, and beheld a fine array 
of infantry, cavalry, and artillery taking up their line of march 
by the Trent road from Newbern. The sight was magnificent 
as the long lines of infantry with their polished arms, and the 
cavalry and artillery, slowly but cheerfully took up their line of 
march, with an elasticity of step and a merry hum of voices that 
unmistakeably showed how high the spirits and expectations of 
all were aroused, and that it required only an able general to 
lead such an army on from victory to victory. 



ADVANCE BIVOUAC SKIRMISH. 73 

As we advanced into the country the evidences of former 
strife everywhere met the eye, in the desolated plantations, 
houses burned to the ground or partially destroyed, and an air 
of ruin and desolation pervading all. 
— After a tedious, plodding and plunging march of about 
fourteen miles, the army bivouacked for the night on a planta- 
tion which seemed more fortunate than many others we passed. 
But its time had come ; and as regiment after regiment arrived 
and stacked arms, it was a curious study to watch the rush they 
made for the nearest fence, the eager scramble for rails, and the 
disappearance of the fences, as if by magic. As night darkened 
over the scene, the countless bivouac fires rose in all directions, 
casting a lurid glare up to the sky, and forming about as pictur- 
esque a scene as could possibly be imagined. And the sound of 
voices and laughter, and the neighing of horses and unearthly 
braying of mules, all combined to render that (my first) bivouac 
a something to be remembered forever. 

Beyond where we encamped Thursday evening, the rebels 
having notice of our approach, blockaded the road for two 
miles, by felling trees across ; but the pioneers set about 
removing them during the night, and when the army resumed 
its march in the morning the way was cleared, and we passed 
on 'into the bowels of the land.' 

About 10 a.m., on Friday, a skirmish occurred near Trenton, 
between our advanced guard of cavalry and some rebel cav- 
alry and infantry, in which the latter were routed with the loss 
of three or four killed and several wounded and taken pris- 
oners. 

Our advance reached Southwest Creek about noon on Satur- 
day, and the enemy, about 2,000 strong, were posted beyond, 
with a battery commanding the road. 

The 9th New Jersey and Morrison's battery were sent for- 
ward to feel their position, and a smart cannonade of some 



74 ENGAGEMENT AT SOUTHWEST CREEK PIG. 

two hours' duration took place, when the 9th New Jersey made 
a detour through the woods and captured the battery, putting 
the rebels to flight. They made another stand about four miles 
this side of Kinston, when the same force pushed after them 
and engaged them for about half an hour, when the rebels again 
fell back. 

While the skirmish was going on, the troops, as they arrived, 
were assigned their places in line of battle, almost parallel with 
the road. Towards evening, the regiments bivouacked in the 
same position they had taken when expecting the assault of the 
enemy. We were pretty hungry by this time", you may depend, 
not having, some of us, tasted food for nearly two days. When 
orders were given to stack arms, there was a general rush for 
rails, but some of the boys, while seeking out the latter, came 
across some luckless porkers, which bit the dust, were skinned, 
and their still quivering flesh subjected to a barely warming 
process, ere it was devoured by the half-famished soldiers. I 
fell in for a stray piece, and computed that the flesh I was then 
devouring, had fifteen minutes before formed a portion of an 
animate pig, careless of sorrow, and only seeking some inno- 
cent pieces of garbage or succulent root wherewith to tickle his 
palate and satisfy the cravings of hunger. How rapid are trans- 
mutations, sometimes ! Little did that pig dream that on the 
morrow he would stimulate the nerves of many a soldier in the 
defeat of rebels and the capture of Kinston. But so it was ; 
and this curious fact might lead me, if d were given to abstract 
reasoning, to trace this influence of forces by the abundance 
of pork. But no ; for me are plainer and perhaps more de- 
monstrative revelations. 

There was a house in our front about one fourth of a mile 
distant, whither some of our lads found their way, and soon aU 
the available beds and bedding which the frightened inmates 
left behind were confiscated and appropriated by the tired sol- 



SWEET POTATOES. 75 

diers. The pig did not satisfy me. I was too fond of vegetables 
to be satisfied with flesh, and, accordingly, set out at the first 
opportunity in search of sweet potatoes. Espying a house upon 
a rising ground, about a mile to the right of our encampment, I 
made for it ; but night came down just as I was starting, and I 
was compelled, as it were, to grope my way through a rice-field 
or swamp that intervened, where I met many a ditch and 
slough, some of which I avoided, and some I fell into. But, no- 
thing daunted, I held on, and drew near the house, when I be- 
held in the darkness the dim outlines of a man in my path, of 
what description — union soldier or guerilla, friend or foe — I 
could not make out. Not being in the mood to stand upon cere- 
mony, I accosted him as I approached (he proved to be a friend), 
inquiring if he knew of any deposit of sweet potatoes in that 
region. Returning a cavalry pistol to his belt with which he 
had covered me on my approach, he directed me to where I 
could find what I desired ; and it may be inferred that I was 
not slow in availing myself of the opportunity afforded, and 
soon set out on my return loaded with sweet potatoes. I had 
almost cleared the swamp, and was approaching the camp-guard 
of one of our batteries — in fact I was almost upon the guard — 
without being perceived, when plump! down I went into an un- 
discovered ditch or drain, frightening myself as well as the 
guard, who brought his piece down to the 'charge/ expecting he 
had some atrocious guerilla on hand. I soon explained mat- 
ters to his satisfaction, however, and went on my way rejoicing. 
My success awakened the hungry ones of Co. K, and the officer 
in command, appreciating the necessity of the men having a 
good supper, sent half-a-dozen along with me to the scene of my 
discoveries. I was a willing guide, and we soon returned with 
an- abundance of provisions, and made a hearty supper upon 
the plunder. We slept well, and awoke next (Sunday) morning 
refreshed, and ready for the road and the fight. 



76 BATTLE OF KINSTON. 

On Sunday morning the 14th, we resumed our march on 
Kinston. From the place where we encamped, a steep hill 
descended, and the road wound through a low, swampy ground 
for about two miles, when we came out upon higher land, where 
our advanced guard (the 9th New Jersey and Wessel's brigade) 
had bivouacked for the night. The advance was already in 
motion, and our regiment followed. In the low grounds of 
Southwest Creek, we saw the evidences of yesterday's strife — 
two cannon captured, and a few dead rebels. When we passed 
the low lands, we saw abundant evidences of hasty preparation 
for resisting our advance ; but, I suppose, as a very considerable 
body of the enemy — who expected us on the other road where 
they were very strongly fortified — could not be got up in time, 
Evans thought it prudent to abandon them. We had not pro- 
ceeded far, however, when the crack of musketry told us that 
our advance was driving in the enemy's pickets ; and soon, as 
we shortened the distance between us and the scene of the 
coming battle, the more regular and deliberate volleys of small 
arms announced that the ball had opened in earnest. Soon the 
artillery came galloping up, and took position, just as we reached 
the wood skirting the battle field. We were halted, and ordered 
on to the right of the road to support a battery. 

The enemy were advantageously posted in a swamp, and on 
a rising ground beyond, about a mile from the bridge leading 
across the river to Kinston. 

The action, which was commenced by our advance in the 
morning, was sustained with vigor, until the main body of our 
forces came up, when the battle became more earnest and ter- 
rible, and, as battery after battery arrived in position, and 
opened its fire on the enemy, the ground fairly shook with their 
repeated reverberations, while the sharp roll of musketry — 
whole battalions delivering their fire at once — filled up the inter- 
vals. The rebel position was well chosen, under cover of a 






SUPPORTING A BATTERY. 77 



dense undergrowth of wood, their foreground protected by groves 
of pines, which, however, offered no impediment to our artillery, 
which mowed them down likegrass. 

I stated that the 17th were ordered to the right to support 
a battery. As we marched in to take .our position, the officer 
in command of the battery, asked — 

"What regiment is that V" 

"The 17th Massachusetts," was the reply. 

"All right, boys," said the officer, and turning to his men, he 
remarked, "I'm glad they didn't send me one of those d — d nine 
months regiments." 

We stood a few minutes in the position we had first taken, 
the cannon booming away like thunder, and the bullets began 
to p-e-e-w athwart our line, quite lively — hurting nobody how- 
ever — when the artillery officer, who was on horseback, said — 

"Here they come — the devils are on us!" 

We could see the flash of bayonets at the edge of the wood, 
and fully expected a charge. Our Colonel ordered the men to 
fall back a few yards to a fence, unsling their blankets, and fix 
bayonets. This was done in less time than it takes me to record 
it, and we waited with anxiety the onset of the rebels. 

Here, for the first time, was I brought into a position that 
required courage and resolution ; but though I felt determined 
to l do or die,' a strange feeling came over me, and if I was not 
really frightened, the feeling was marvelcusly like fear. I sup- 
pose every man who first goes into action is troubled with a sen- 
sation something akin to that which I felt at this time ; but, like 
every new sensation, it soon wears off, and the experience of 
the actual dangers of conflict serves to obliterate all such 
qualms, and leaves the individual in the full enjoyment of a 
reckless indifference to what may betide, and an implicit confi- 
dence in that fate which may be the preservation or destruction 
of his dear life. 



78 DARKY UNDER FIRE. 

While we were in position awaiting the onset of the enemy, 
an incident occurred, which showed how serene men will look 
upon others going into the same danger they are in themselves. 

A negro teamster, with his ammunition cart, was ordered fur- 
ther on, to supply another battery on our right whose caissons 
were running low of ammunition. The poor fellow thought he 
was going to his death, and if ever mortal fear displayed itself 
upon the countenance of any human being, it was upon that 
poor darky's face. I shall never forget the wild rolling of his 
eyes, nor the frenzied and agonized expression of his face, as he 
hesitatingly guided his team in front of our regiment, urged on 
by our men with such encouraging remarks as — 

"Go it nig; don't be afraid!" "You're a goner, old darky, — 
good bye!" "Won't the rebs chaw him up?" &c. 

We waited some time for the rebels to appear, but they came 
not. In the meantime, the battery we were supporting was rip- 
ping up the woods in front in fine style — at every discharge 
cracking off the pine trees as it they had been pipe stems. 

At length an order came for us to proceed further down to 
the right, where the 9 th New Jersey and a battery had pre- 
ceded us, and here we crossed a swamp, and turned the enemy's 
right. 

We were to push on ; but our Lt. Colonel, not, perhaps, un- 
derstanding the order fully, halted us in a cleared field beyond 
the swamp, and ordered us to lay down. The 9th New Jersey 
were off in the woods to our right, and when I first beheld them 
I took th&m for rebels. From the position occupied, we could 
see the long line of intrenchments in our front ; but we did not 
suppose a river intervened, which was the case. During the 
movements just recorded, the firing had been rapid and tremen- 
dous, and, from the cheers of our men, we could clearly infer 
that the rebels were giving way. Then was the golden oppor- 
tunity for us — for, had we then advanced as we did afterwards, 



A FLANK MOYEMENT WOMEN IN BATTLE. 79 

instead of taking a few hundred prisoners, we should have cap-, 
tured an entire brigade — but it was lost. Col. Arnory coming 
up soon after, said — 

"Why do you stay here ? Forward, as quick as you can !" 
The regiment rose like one man, and, on the order being 
given to go forward at the double quick, rushed down with a 
yell. As we neared the bridge, we beheld a rout — an almost 
indescribable body of men running for their lives. All discipline 
seemed lost, and casting aside guns, equipments and clothing, 
and, in fact, whatever might retard their flight, they fled like a 
herd of frightened deer, while close upon their heels came on 
the charging columns of our men. It was a magnificent, and 
yet it was a pitiable sight. As intimated before, we succeeded 
in bagging a goodly number ; but the bridge being set on fire, 
we were forced to give over the pursuit until the flames were 
extinguished. 

While laying down in the field, I observed a substantial look- 
in<* two-story house in our front, and near the bridge, a large 
portion of the rear of which had been shattered by a shell, 
evidently the work of the enemy. I found this the case when 
we halted near the bridge, from which position I could observe 
that the missile had entered the roof of the piazza, went clean 
through the house, bursting as it was penetrating the rear wall, 
and making the havoc described. Standing upon the piazza, 
the picture of anguish and despair, were two women, who 
seemed watching the rout of their army with a terrible and 
heart-sick interest, perfectly heedless of the missiles of death 
flying around thick and fast. Some of our officers, taking pity 
upon the poor women, and solicitous lest the exposure should 
endanger their lives, approached, and advised them to retire to 
a place of safety. But they resolutely refused to stir from their 
dangerous position. Doubtless, they had friends near and dear 
to them in the fight, and anxiety for the fate of those loved ones 



80 SOUTHERN WOMEN AND SECESSION. 

made theni forget the natural timidity of their sex, and thus 
risk their lives. 

It has been often stated that the women of the South did 
more to drive the men to take up arms against the Government 
than the politicians. If this be so— and my experience makes 
me think it probable — then they have most surely reaped in 
the -whirlwind of desolation which has burst upon their hitherto 
peaceful homes the most bitter fruits of the wind of treason 
they have sown. To them, unlike the women of the North, the 
fields of strife are not afar off, and they do not have to weep for 
their braves fallen in the distant battle-field. The clouds of 
strife gather and burst about their homes. They see their fields 
laid waste, — their towns and villages made the abode of desola- 
tion and anguish. They behold their sons, brothers, fathers, 
and friends stricken down by the hand of war before their eyes. 
Danger lurks forever at their doors. Famine — gaunt, ghastly, 
insatiate — forever hovers in their future, like a bird of ill omen. 
They are forced to many a weary struggle to provide the neces- 
saries of life for their helpless, and too frequently, alas ! father- 
less children. Like the first of their sex, they incited disobe- 
dience, and now they find their paradise changed to an abode 
of wretchedness and misery, and are compelled, in tears and 
wretchedness to eat the bitter fruit of their crime. I have seen 
the widowed wife and orphan children standing pale, motionless 
^nd horror-struck over the dead body of the husband and father, 
and, with glassy eyes look upon the passing array of their foes, 
fierce and triumphant in the 'pomp and circumstance of war ;' 
and I have thought what a pity that even so great an offence 
should have so terrible a punishment. But 'those whom the 
gods wish to destroy they first make mad.' 

The attack on Kinston was planned and carried out by Gen. 
Wessel, and, though the fight was more severe, and of much 
longer duration than the battle of Newbern, a difficult position 



BATTLE OF KINSTON. 



81 



was carried with comparatively small loss — (about 100 killed 
and 400 wounded). 

The rebels had chosen their position, as before stated, upon a 
slight elevation beyond a swamp r and on both sides of the Kins- 
ton road. Their left was protected by a church and a growth 
of scrub oaks, and their right by a grove of large trees, their 
front and both flanks being pretty well protected by a swamp, 
difficult to cross, and densely covered with a growth of small 
trees and pines. 




The brigade of Gen. Wessells opened the ball in fine style, 
driving in the rebel advance, and alone sustained the onset of 
the rebels, until the brigades commanded by Cols. Amory, 
Heckman, and Stevenson got into position, when they formed 
the left wing of our line of battle — Stevenson and Heckman the 
centre, and Amory the right. 

Gen. Evans commanded the rebel army, which consisted of 
over five brigades of about 15,000 men, including a brigade of 
6 



82 WHO KILLED THAT PIG? 

home-guards from Raleigh. The other troops were mainly from 
South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. Evans disposed his 
men in a skilful manner upon and behind the rising ground he 
had chosen for the battle-field,.and had several batteries so dis- 
posed as to command the approaches by the road in front, and 
his left flank, -which, however, was his weak spot. The fire of 
the rebels upon our attacking columns was rapid and well- 
directed, and did great havoc among them ; but our line kept 
steadily though slowly, from the nature of the ground, advanc- 
ing upon them, and, after a severe contest of over five and a 
half hours, and just as the 17th and 9th New Jersey had suc- 
ceeded in turning their left, an impetuous charge was made, and 
the day was ours. 

We halted in a field, and were ordered to lay down, our left rest- 
ing on the river. The few remaining rebels on the other side 
kept up a desultory but sharp fire upon our men and the 9th 
New Jersey in our front. 

Orders to fire had not been given, and we had to lay quietly 
and forego many a good opportunity of picking off a stray rebel. 
But human nature could -not stand such inaction always, and 
many a sly shot was planted upon the opposite bank, sometimes 
with excellent effect. I had my eye upon a rebel who kept 
firing from behind a tree, and seemed particularly active in 
picking off our men, and suddenly formed the resolve to shoot 
him if I possibly could. Slipping quietly to the rear, I made 
quick time for the left of our line on the river bank. Just as I 
arrived, I found one of Co. K's men, named Kendrick, in the 
act of firing, and on looking across to see the result of his shot, 
saw a huge porker jump into the air as if struck. Sam fixed 
that fellow's hash for him, and it afterwards became a common 
saying — "Who killed that pig? — Sam Kendrick." But my 
man, who was behind a tree, abandoned his shelter and made 
off just as I had got my battery into position. I fired, and, 



HORRORS OF WAR. ' 83 

throwing up his arms, he fell forward on his face. Feeling like 
a prize-fighter, who had drawn his 'first blood,' I leisurely 
returned to my place in the ranks, reloading my piece as I 
went along, when I was accosted by Capt. Day, who was acting 
Major — 
."You have been firing without orders." 

"Yes, sir." 

"What name?" 

I told him. 

"What company ?" 

"K." 

Going along the line with me to where the company was, 
he ordered the officer (Lieut. Greeley) to put me under arrest. 

"What will all this amount to, lieutenant ?" I asked. 

"Nothing," he laconically replied, "take your place in the 
ranks." 

"What's the matter?" queried some of the men. 

" Nothing," I replied, "only I've been arrested for shooting a 
reb." 

"Is that all!" 

Men were detailed, under the guidance of Major Frankle, 
Provost Marshal, to put out the fires which had been kindled by 
the retreating rebels, which, in a short time, was accomplished, 
and the 9th New Jersey crossed over followed by the 17th. 
And here I had an opportunity of seeing some of the most ter- 
rible evidences of human strife. The bridge was actually paved 
with cast-off arms and equipments, while in the midst of where 
some of the fires had been, I beheli one of the most sickening 
sights that ever met my gaze. Some of the poor fellows who 
had been wounded by our fire on the retreat, or been trampled 
down by the rush of the flying host, were burnt to a cinder, and 
I could actually see the fat seething and boiling in the hollow of 
the temple of one of the charred remains. 



84 GENERAL WESSELLS. 

Upon reaching the other side of the river we halted, amidst 
a promiscuous mass of dead, dying, and wounded men — of 
clothes, arms and equipments. It was here that the 9th New 
Jersey picked up (captured ?) the battle-flag of the 22d South 
Carolina regiment, a magnificent silk banner, with the palmetto 
tree on one side of the field, and a wreath of stars on the other, 
and the red, white and red stripes. 

A few yards from where we halted, was an abandoned field 
piece with its caisson, which the rebs had left behind in their 
flioht. It was the same cannon which had fired the last rebel 
shot in the battle, directed at our regiment, over which it burst, 
and wounded two or three men. I had the curiosity to examine 
some of the cartridges in the caisson, and found them, as well as 
the fixed ammunition of the small arms used by the rebels 
labelled with the maker's name (which 1 forget) 'London, 
England.' 

After a short halt we advanced up towards the town of Kins- 
ton, whither the 9th New Jersey had preceded us. The road 
wound along the river bank to the left for a short distance, and 
then took a turn to the right into the centre of the town. At 
the entrance to the town, the 9th New Jersey were halted, and 
when we came up mutual cheers were exchanged. 

Just then Gen. Wessells came riding up at the head of his bri- 
gade of Pennsylvanians and New Yorkers. He was a fine 
specimen of a man, tall, straight as an arrow, and with a pleas- 
ing, and even gentle expression of countenance, that indicated a 
humane disposition,, and these indications were not false, if the 
love and admiration of his men were any evidence. He seemed, 
by his gray hair and a few wrinkles on his noble face, to be over 
fifty years of age ; but, otherwise, in elasticity of movement, 
apparent vigor, and by the keen, quick glances of his honest 
gray eyes, he looked much younger. 

The rebels, after collecting their stores and all the cotton they 



IN KINSTON. 85 

could gather into a heap, set them on fire. They also set fire to 
the railroad depot, a handsome brick structure, but this was 
extinguished by our men before it had made any considerable 
headway. 

Previous to our entering the town, a flag of truce demanding 
its surrender had been sent in ; but as it was found the enemy 
had abandoned the town, a messenger was sent back acquaint- 
ing Gen. Foster with the fact, the party kept on to find the 
skedaddlers, if possible. About two miles beyond the town 
they came up with Evans, who sent back word to Gen. Foster 
to have the women and children removed, as he was going to 
return the fire, which all the while had been kept up by our 
heavy guns upon his retreating forces. This was simply a ruse 
to gain time ; for, after our forces had been brought up and 
disposed in line of battle, and the cavalry and skirmishers 
had advanced up to where they expected to find the enemy, it 
was ascertained the bird had flown. 

Our regiment, which had been detailed from the brigade, and 
when we entered Kinston was ordered on provost duty, in view 
of the anticipated fight, was ordered to rejoin the brigade ; but, 
when the skedaddle was discovered, we were again assigned to 
provost duty, and such marching and countermarching, and 
shifting, and looking around for a vacant place to serve as quar- 
ters for the night, as the men of Co. K had, never fell to the 
lot of so tired and hungry a set of men to experience. I suppose 
some of the other companies could boast of a similar experience. 

But do not suppose the men of the 17th were satisfied with 
only one job on hand at a time. No, sir. They could do pro- 
vost duty ; but they could also, when hungry, find something to 
eat (and drink) if such were comealable. In this instance the 
way poultry suffered was a caution ; and there was something 
truly ludicrous, too, in the exhibition of men gravely marching 
in the ranks, each having in his hand a couple of hens, or 



86 THE TOWN OF KINSTON. 

a turkey, or a goose, all of which made such a noise and 
flutter that it was next to impossible to hear the word of com- 
mand when spoken. 

The Major (Frankle), who, as a general thing, was very- 
severe in his denunciations of such proceedings, replied to a 
woman, who complained that she had lost all her fowl : 

"Yat — all your shickens gone ? You may be tankful it was 
no more! If you did not have more to eat than my men, and 
march and fight so hard, I tink you would take a little shicken, 
too!" 

The town of Kinston is one of the neatest and most tidy- 
looking I have seen in North Carolina, or, in fact, elsewhere. 
It is finely laid out, in a splendid location upon the banks of the 
river, the streets running at right angles ; the houses well built, 
painted white, and to each is attached a beautiful and tasteful 
flower garden. The jail was a small but solid-looking structure, 
and empty. A church, small, but with a high steeple, (the top 
of which had been struck and bent by a cannon-shot), stood in 
the centre, and an air of so much quiet and comfort — so differ- 
ent from anything we had seen in Dixie, and so unexpected in 
this place — pervaded it, that the men of the 17th incontinently 
fell in love with the place, and wished for nothing better than 
to do provost duty in Kinston forever. 

We had not been long in the town when mines of apple-jack, 
peach brandy, and tobacco were discovered, and the various 
expedients resorted to by the men to get at the same were as 
amusing as. they were generally successful. People who left 
their houses with clothing and other matters behind, must have 
found a considerable change when they came back. Indeed, 
some of them returned during our occupation, and a more pitia- 
ble sight could not well be imagined, than those- small proces- 
sions of timid women and helpless children who came flocking 
back to their homes upon being assured of protection. 



FUN NEGROES PRISONERS. 87 

Apple-jack and peach brandy, which had been discovered 
somewhere by the most expert foragers, soon made their influ- 
ence felt, and incited the soldiers to committing many curious 
pranks. Here would be seen a burly soldier, with a woman's 
dress, even to the bonnet, put on over his own, his musket still 
on his shoulder, and linked arm in arm with another soldier, 
presenting as grotesque an appearance as could well be 
imagined — while in another place could be seen a party intently 
engaged in harnessing a diminutive mule to a vehicle, the quad- 
ruped resenting such freedom as only a mule can. 

A cavalryman passed us, with a bucket in each hand, urging 
his horse to its utmost speed, and shouting as he went on — 

"Plenty of rum, boys ! — lashins! — lashins!" 

The inhabitants (those who remained) looked glum and chop- 
fallen enough ; but the negroes — it seemed a gala day to them, 
especially the juvenile portion, who ran around among 'de so- 
jers' as if they were friends returning after a long absence. 

"How is you, Yankees ? I's glad you'm come!" was the gen- 
eral salutation ; and the negro women vied with each other in 
emptying their larders to give 'de sojers suffen good.' 

Towards night (having, like Ishmaelites, wandered about all 
the evening in search of quarters) we obtained an entrance into 
a hardware and furniture store ; but just as we were going in 
an order came, directing us to guard the prisoners. We pro- 
ceeded to the upper end of the town, near the depot, and there 
took charge of a squad of about 400 rebels, and escorted them 
to a large unoccupied building at the other end of the town. 
On our way thither, I had an opportunity of speaking with seve- 
ral of them. Although they differed in some things, yet they 
all seemed to agree in one thing, viz., in being heartily sick of 
the war, and desirous of peace. 

Observing among them a man in Quaker's garb, I re- 
marked — 



88 A NORTH CAROLINA UNION MAN. 

"Friend, you do not look like a fighting man. How did you 
get here ?" 

To which he replied, in a half-crying tone — 

"Thou art right, friend. I am no fighting man. I never 
fought in my life! I don't want to fight — I won't fight! Thy 
horsemen caught me on the road, and thee seest the result." 

Observing an elderly gentleman in civilians' clothes, I re- 
marked — 

"You do not look like a soldier either, friend ?" 

"No, sir," he replied, "I'm not a soldier ; nor would my con- 
science allow me to fight in the confederate cause. I've always 
been a Union man, and am so still." 

1 cautioned him about expressing sentiments that might com- 
promise him when we left, as it was not certain how long he 
would receive protection from our arms ; but he replied, that he 
cared not ; his sentiments were already well known, and while 
he lived he would express them to friend or foe. 

Observing he was lightly clad, I asked if he had any friends 
in the city who could supply him with clothes and something 
to eat. He said his son-in-law, named Patterson, lived just 
across the street, and would attend to his wants, if acquainted 
with his situation. I offered to carry a message to Mr. Patter- 
son, who expressed surprise at his father-in-law's arrest, saying 
he was one of the few men in that neighborhood, who had all 
along remained true to the old flag. 

He immediately repaired to the provost marshal's office, and, 
I had the satisfaction of knowing, was successful in obtaining 
the old gentleman's unconditional release. 

We left our blankets and overcoats on the field, and the night 
being cold, after our blood had cooled somewhat, when the day's 
excitement was ended, we felt the need of some covering, and 
a party of our company was made up to go over and get them ; 
but we could not procure a team, and the project was aban- 



NIGHT ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 89 

doned. I, however, had no notion of doing without my over- 
coat, and, with two or three others, who were of the same mind, 
started for the field. We passed over the place where the 
fighting had been thickest, and stumbled upon, and over, evi- 
dences of the deadly strife — inanimate bodies of friend and foe, 
maimed and disfigured. But I will not dwell upon the sicken- 
ing scene revealed to us by the light of the camp fires ; suffice 
it to say, that we were successful in obtaining our clothing 
and returned to our temporary quarters tired and hungry. 

During our absence, a hotel had been set on fire, whether by 
design or through accident, could not be found out. It was 
burning fiercely when we returned \ and, despite the efforts of 
our men to extinguish it, was destroyed, together with some 
small dwellings adjacent. 

The gunboats had come up to a blockade about four miles 
below the city, which was commanded by an earthwork fort ; 
and, after we had driven the rebels out of Kinston, we could 
hear the continuous boom of heavy artillery in that direction. 
A squad of the 3d New York Cavalry started for the scene, and 
surprised and captured the fort that was pounding away at the 
gunboats, and nearly all in it. 

The result of our day's work may be summed up in a few 
words — we beat the rebels from a strong position, took over 500 
prisoners, and 11 pieces of artillery. 

The battle of Kinston was won on the same day on which the 
battle of Fredericksburg was fought. 

On Monday morning we were awakened early, and with the 
9th New Jersey, took up the advance. Recrossing the bridge, 
we passed over the battle-field, and here I observed a fine mas- 
tiff laying down beside the body of his dead rebel master. I 
had often read of such things ; but I had at last the privilege of 
seeing for myself that noble instinct of affection which binds so 
closely the ties between man and the inferior animals. 



90 A REBEL WIDOW. 

About two miles on the road to Whitehall (for we had turned 
off in that direction), I left the ranks, and went into a house at 
the road-side. A poor widow, with three or four young children, 
constituted the family. The poor woman seemed terribly fright- 
ened, and in a tremulous voice told me her husband had been 
in the rebel army, and had died at Manasses ; that she had to 
depend for her support, and that of her children, upon the labor 
of the loom, and that the house she lived in was given her for 
occupation, free, by a gentleman who owned the plantation on 
which it stood. She gave me some corn-bread, and I gave her 
in exchange a few biscuit and some tobacco, for she smoked ; 
and with pity in my heart for the poor woman and her helpless 
family, I left them, none the worse off for my visit, and rejoined 
the regiment which had halted for a rest a short distance ahead. 

About mid-day, however, I began to feel my legs growing 
stiff, and being unable to keep up with the regiment, I 'fell out' 
and straggled — for the first time. Charles Renaud (our late 
cook, whom I have mentioned before) was in the same boat, and 
■we soon came together, and together trudged on as best we 
could, rested together, made our coffee together, and together 
visited many points of interest and attraction on our route, 
gathering a stray honeycomb here, and a stray piece of corn 
bread there; but the grand object of our search (which was 
anything of a spirituous or malt nature we could get hold of — 
-whiskey preferred) could not be found. At length, shortly after 
mid-day, we came in sight of a really handsome one-story cot- 
tage house, evidently the abode of wealth and refinement, and 
thither we went, but only to find that we had been anticipated ; 
the house deserted by all save a negro, and every thing in the 
most delightful confusion — drawers pulled out, and their contents 
scattered about, chairs and furniture broken, and every portable 
thing of value missing. But we were not disappointed at this, 
as our object was not plunder, but — whiskey. Bringing the 



•FORAGING CHARLEY AND I. 91 

point of my bayonet in close proximity to the darkey's breast, I 
conjured him as he wished for the success of the North, and his 
own freedom and life, to tell me if he had any whiskey or apple- 
jack stowed away about the premises. He turned pale (that is, 
for a darkey), his knees smote together, and, with an agonizing 
appeal to spare his life (which was perfectly unnecessary, inas- 
much as I had no notion of confiscating it) and solemn assur- 
ances that there was nothing of the kind on the premises, 
directed me to a distillery, which, he averred, lay in from the 
road about 'haaf * a mile, on the right hand, just after crossing 
the second branch. Off we started, and on our way questioned 
a farmer, who, with horse and team, was requested to accom- 
pany the army so that he should not give information to his 
rebel friends of its whereabouts — Foster having given them the 
slip — but he stoutly denied all knowledge of its whereabouts, 
averring that there was nothing of the kind within twenty miles. 
Somewhat staggered by this information, we were about giving 
up the search ; but depending more upon the darky's word than 
that of Mr. Secesh, we finally concluded to give the place a 
trial. We struck off at the point indicated, and followed a 
rough cart-road, which, a short distance onward, diverged into 
numerous roads and bridle-paths, to choose between which was 
no little difficulty. At length we pitched upon one, and hav- 
ing disencumbered ourselves of blankets, overcoats, and haver- 
sacks, which we secreted behind a fallen tree, set forward, 
determined to see the end of that road, at the same time keep- 
ing a wary eye in case we should stumble upon a stray guerilla 
party. Instead of going 'haaf a mile, we went over two 
miles before we came in sight of the object of our search, which 
was just beyond a grist-mill, on the bank of a stream. We 
knew it to be a distillery by the number of casks and barrels 
around it, and by the peeuliar odor arising from it, borne to our 
nostrils on the wings of the wind. But all was deserted ; the 



92 A COUNCIL OF WAR. 

mill and still-house were locked, bolted and barred, and ouri 
cautious advance found no opposition from anything animate. 
We paused before the strongly protected door of the distillery, 
and I doubted our ability to break the lock. 

"Well, then, let us smash in ze door." 

"But we will be heard by the guerillas who may not be far 
off, and what would we do if a dozen of them should come 
upon us ?" 

"Fight, I teenk." 

"Fight! What chance would we have against so many ?" 

"We could fire, and re-treet." 

"Yes ; but they would probably surround us before we knew it." 

"Well — dhan, I suppose we must be tak-en pree-so-neer." 

"And would you like that, Charley ?" 

"I sup-pose if we cannot help it — what you do ?" and he 
shrugged his shoulders. 

"Are you willing to run the risk ?" 

"Oui — if you say so!" 

But believing there might be an easier way of 'breaking 
and entering,' besides attacking the formidable door before us, I 
suggested a reconnoitre of the rear, where we found an opening 
defended only by a few boards nailed crosswise. These were 
soon ripped off, and, leaving Charley to guard against any sur- 
prise from without, I entered, taking his canteen, and proceeded 
to explore. There was corn in soak, and plenty of empty 
casks ; but no whiskey. At length I lit upon a stone jug nearly 
full, from which came the smell of whiskey, and, giving Charley 
to understand I had found the prize, T proceeded to fill both the 
canteens, after having accomplished which, I thought it would 
be nothing out of the way to save what I had secured as much 
as possible, and therefore proceeded to fortify myself with a pull 
at the jug ; but the first mouthful convinced me that the prize 
I bad secured was not whiskey, but water (no doubt, the jug 



AN UNLOOKED-FOR VISITOR. 93 

had contained whiskey once, as was evident from the smell). 
Vexed at my disappointment, I proceeded to examine further, 
but with no success, and I finally emerged empty-handed as I 
had entered. Charley was as much disappointed as I, but a 
shrug and muttered 'sacre' was all the evidence he gave of it. 
We then broke into the mill ; but found nothing there except 
corn and some empty kegs. We went to a house or barn in 
the rear, filled with corn, but were equally unsuccessful. There 
was a house about a mile distant from the mill, and after a con- 
sultation, in which it was taken for granted that it must belong 
to the owner of the distillery, we started for it. Within a quar- 
ter of a mile of the house was a grove of young pines, and 
there we halted and arranged that I should go forward alone, 
and in case of danger Charley could come up at the proper, 
time, when I would ask him Where he left the rest of the men, 
and he was to reply — "Waiting in the grove." Fixing on my 
bayonet, and looking to see if the cap of my piece was all right, 
I moved for the house, which I reached without molestation or 
discovery, except by a sentinel dog (not a fierce one), who 
retreated in good order at my approach. I entered the first 
door I came to, and proceeded through a bed room into which 
it opened, to the kitchen or general room of the house. My 
heavy tread announced a stranger, I suppose, for half a dozen 
females and as many children came in at once, and seemed 
transfixed and terrified at the apparition they beheld. Giving 
assurance that I intended no harm to any of them, I inquired if 
the master of the house was at home, 'and if so, where he then 
was ? After a little hesitation, they told me he was in the gar- 
den, in front. I went out to him, and he returned my saluta- 
tion without any exhibition of ill-will. I inquired if guerillas 
were numerous in the neighborhood, which he denied, saying, 
however, at length, that there had been ' a right smart ' 
of mounted men in the neighborhood a short time previously. 



94 PEACH BRANDY. 

At this juncture Charley came up, and I questioned, and 
received such answer from him as agreed upon. I inquired 
about the distillery, but the planter disclaimed its ownership, 
saying that the man who owned it, lived a 'right smart' distance; 
beyond. Had he any whiskey ? No, sir ; he hadn't a drop— 
we might search if we pleased — he had nothing in that line but 
some peach brandy (spirits), which had been burnt in the dis- 
tillation, but was just as good, and we were welcome to it. 
Taking him at his word, we poured into our canteens enough of 
the spirits to warrant our filling them with water, and still leave 
a strong drink (1 didn't have the heart to take all). We then 
asked if he had anything to eat, as we were hungry, when his 
wife immediately set before us a good dish of pork, corn bread, 
and sweet potatoes, which we did ample justice to. The chil- 
dren became more familiar, and some of the youngest actually 
came up to us, to share in our meal. They were the finest 
children I had seen in North Carolina. Thanking our host — 
for we had nothing better to give in return — we retraced our 
steps in better spirits, and soon rejoined our struggling and 
straggling comrades, who had been, and were still, wending 
along on their weary way. 

We had in Co. K a young fellow, of small stature, named 
Tom McNally, who was one of the regimental 'markers.' Tom 
was full of fun, and had a great love for horseflesh. He accom- 
panied the regiment on every expedition, and it was remarked, 
that he always managed to have a horse to ride ('confiscated,' of 
course, from rebels, in a manner peculiar to Tom ) At the 
battle of Kinston, he came in possession of a fine colt ; but, dur- 
ing the afternoon, while engaged in exploring the town, the 
animal was stolen by one of the 51st. Tom went up boldly to 
the headquarters of the regiment, and demanded the horse ; but 
the colonel of the 51st told him he had no right to the animal, 
and should not have him. 



AN EGGSTRAORDINARY PROCEEDING. 95 

"I've as much right to him as the other fellow," said Tom ; 
"and if I can't get him any other way, I'll steal him back again!*' 

And he would have carried out his threat, but eight men of 
the 51st were detailed to guard the animal that night, and, of 
course, he stood no chance of being successful, and did not try 
his hand at the game. 

Nothing disheartened, however, he next morning struck off' 
ahead of the regiment, and had not proceeded above three miles 
before he came to a plantation, where he found a fine youn» 
mare ; and actually compelled the owner to put on bridle, sad- 
dle, and assist him to mount. The wife of the planter did not 
wish to lose the animal, and told Tom she had a better horse in 
one of the fields, which he could have instead ; but, suspecting 
the horse could not be better, he made off amid the complaints 
of the woman. One of the 9th New Jersey, who witnessed 
the affair told him it was a shame, &c. 

"Shut up your head!" answered Tom, "you'd be only too 
glad to get a horse to ride yourself !" 

And, sure enough, it was not long until Tom saw the Jersey- 
man mounted on a blind mule he had taken from a ne»ro. 

Shortly after, Tom procured a pair of spurs, and on applying 
them to the mare's flanks, developed a peculiarity, which his 
ready wit soon turned to account, as the following will show : 

Riding up to a planter's house, he accosted a negro girl, 
and asked her for some eggs. She refused to give- him any, 
when, turning the horse's heels towards her, and applying the 
spurs, the animal began kicking furiously, Tom at the same time 
exclaiming — 

"If you don't get me some eggs, I'll kick your brains out!" 

"O lor, massa, don't kill me, and I get de eggs!" she said, and 
retreated to the hen-house ; but once inside, and feeling secure, 
she again attempted to put him off by saying there were no 
eggs; when, without further parley, he backed his nag up 



96 STRAGGLERS. 

against the hen-house, and giving her the spurs, the animal 
commenced kicking against it so violently, that the wench, fear- 
ing the building would be knocked about her ears, piteously 
begged him to desist, and she would get him all the eggs he 
wanted. Tom drew off from the attack, and received the fruits 
of his victory, in the shape of a dozen eggs. The same persua- 
sive force also procured a canteen full of peach brandy. But 
luck is often a fickle jade, as is a strange mare, sometimes ; for, 
the very qualities in Tom's animal of which he was so proud, 
and which had served his turn so well, came near being the 
death of him. Passing too close to her heels one evening, the 
vicious brute gave him a kick in the side, and broke two of his 
ribs, which eventually ended in his being discharged from the 
regiment. 

I'might here pause, and give a description of the stragglers 
(among whom I found myself for the first time.) The mass of 
stragglers, as a general thing, are composed of men who become 
worn out with marching, or who are too footsore to keep up 
with their respective battalions, and fall behind, keeping on as 
best they can, and generally rejoining the regiments when they 
bivouac, though, of course, some hours after the halt for the 
night takes place. Some — often a great portion — of them, 
however, straggle for the sake of picking up stray fowls, 
victuals, and whatever else palatable which might fall in their 
way ; and it was an amusing study to watch these fellows scat- 
tered and squatted along the roadside, or snugly ensconced in 
the angles of the fences, leisurely engaged in the work of pluck- 
ing geese, turkies and other fowl, or skinning and dissecting 
dead porkers. Sometimes a cow would be met with and slain, 
and then quite a number of these stragglers would congregate, 
light a fire, and proceed to roast and devour the not unsavory 
pieces of flesh hewn from the still quivering carcase. There is, 
of course, a rear-guard to each brigade ; but they do not succeed 



BILLY PATTERSON IN 'THE LAST DITCH. ' 97 

in keeping the men moving fast enough, and are generally com- 
pelled to 'let them slide.' Some of the stragglers, however, take 
a different method of prosecuting their researches, and, instead 
of falling behind, push ahead, and spread themselves like locusts 
on each flank, and generally make a clean sweep of all things 
eatable in their course. 

The army bivouacked for the night within about five miles of 
Whitehall. In the morning, just before we started, a difficulty 
occurred between Billy Patterson and a little drummer. Words 
grew hot, and the drummer, making a demonstration on Billy's 
physiognomy, the latter (a burly, double-fisted fellow), as if 
resolved to die in the lasUditch, exclaimed — 

"Well, be , a man has got to die but once, and I might as 

well die now" — "" 

But his further utterance was stopped by the little drummer 
springing up and dealing him a 'sockdologer' under the ear. 
Before Billy could draw in his skirmishers, however, and pre- 
pare for a general engagement, an officer stepped up and sepa- 
rated the belligerents. 

About nine o'clock on Tuesday, our advance came up with 
the enemy at Whitehall, who, after a sharp skirmish, retired 
across the river, burning the bridge behind them. 

Whitehall consisted of one house, which looked as if it never 
knew a coat of paint, and why it was called by that name has 
been a mystery to me to this day. The only reasonable solu- 
tion I can give to the apparent misnomer is, that a man named 
White, or a white man, lived there. 

Upon the advance of our forces towards the river — a feint 
being made as if we intended to cross the same— the enemy 
opened on us from the opposite side with artillery and musketry. 
They had also a number of sharpshooters in the tree-tops, and 
other advantageous positions on the other bank, who kept up a 
continuous and pelting fire upon us, with perfect impunity, too, 



98 



BATTLE OF WHITEHALL. 



for we could not see them, though they could see us, and picked 
off many of our poor fellows. 

The 1 7th were ordered down to the river bank on the right 
of the road, and got into a hornet's nest and no mistake ; for 
the shells burst around and among us, and the bullets made the 
air vocal with their insinuating p-e-w-phet ; but though we 
had quite a number wounded, not one of our number was killed. 

While being actively engaged upon the river bank, our own 
artillery had come up, and commenced pelting at the rebs in 
glorious style. We had six batteries (forty-two pieces) in the 




expedition, and here they were all brought into play. The 
enemy bad also a good share of artillery, and when they all got 
into full working order, what with the bursting of shells and 
the diapason of small arms, the ground fairly shook with the 
reverberations. 

The wooded bank of the river, in which the 17th were posted, 
becoming dangerous from the fire of our artillery, which ripped 
through the trees and drove the splinters about in all directions, 



AN ASTONISHED AIDE. 99 

wounding some of our men, Col. Amory sent in his aide with 
instructions for Lt Col. Fellows to draw his men further to the 
rear. I was sitting cosily on the edge of a sloping bank, my 
legs astride the butt of a tree, and anxiously dodging my 
head about in search of a sharp-shooter who was, as I had occa- 
sion to believe, exclusively engaged in the endeavor to put me 
out of suspense and existence at the same time, when the 
aide came up and inquired where the Lt. Col. was. Perhaps 
it was officiousness on my part to direct him in the most safe 
and expeditious way to find Lt. Col. Fellows, who, as usual was 
at the front ; for, without noticing my directions he preceeded 
further, and came near faring much worse. Just as he was 
taking advantage of an opening in the underbrush to go down 
the bank, whizz-herr-r-r-bang came a «6hell from the enemy 
which passed within two feet of him. He drew back, pale, and 
looking frightened enough ; but, rallying, he proceeded a few 
yards further; but, just as he had found another opening, one 
of our batteries sent a discharge ripping through the woods just 
in front of him again, when, thinking, probably, he had gone 
far enough in that direction, he came to the right about, and 
sought the path I pointed out to him in the first place. 

Our regiment was withdrawn about one hundred yards to the 
rear, ordered to lay down, and remained there under fire for 
three hours. We had, however, time to smoke, and take a sur- 
vey of the battle-field on our left. The batteries were thunder- 
ing away, and the regiments which were ordered in on the left 
of the road (among which were the 23d, 44th and 45th), were 
firing rapidly, and losing heavily, if one could form a judgment 
from the way in which the ambulance corps were carrying the 
wounded to the rear. Not only did the infantry suffer from 
the fire of the enemy, but the batteries which were most ad- 
vanced suffered their share of the casualties. 

A sergeant, of Belger's battery I think, was in the act of 



100 INCIDENTS OT THE BATTLE. 

dismounting from his horse, when a shot or shell passed through 
the animal, and hit the sergeant, tearing the left side completely 
out of him. 

One of our men wishing to have a better view of some object 
in his front, elevated his head, and opened his mouth, when a 
rifle ball passed into the cavity, and out at the back of his neck, 
the first intimation of which we had was a stream of blood 
spirting out of his mouth. 

Major John G. Chambers was in command of the 23d, and 
marched his men in under fire ; then formed them in line of 
battle, and I could not help noticing the extreme coolness of this 
officer in giving the order, in a deliberate voice — 

"Captains of companies, see to your allinements." 

Before the engagement had any sign of abating, the 17th 
were ordered to take up the advance for Goldsboro. We had 
to pass across the battle-ground under fire every step of the 
•way ; but, strange to say, no casualties occurred during this 
movement. We halted opposite the house which constituted the 
city or town of Whitehall, when we were accosted by an enthu- 
siastic but prudent defender of his country, who had taken 
shelter in the lee of the house, safe from the enemy's bullets, 
who exclaimed : 

"I say, boys, aint we giving 'em hell ?" 
Bestowing upon the hero a few 'O you be d — ds,' we resumed 
our march, and soon left the fierce cannonade far behind 

us. 

The battle of Whitehall was little more than an artillery- 
duel, and would be deserving only of a few lines of record if it 
occurred on the Potomac or the Rapidan. I think, in the en- 
gagement, which lasted about four and a half hours, there must 
have been a great deal of lead wasted and iron thrown away 
on our side. The only sensible impression made by our projec- 
tiles, that we could see, was upon the frame of a gunboat on 



BEYOND WHITEHALL APPROACHING THE RAILROAD. 101 

the stocks at the other side of the river (intended for an iron- 
clad), and this was certainly riddled up in fine style. 

The mention of the gunboat, or frame of one, puts me in 
mind of a daring act performed the evening previous to the 
battle by one of the 3d New York cavalry. He stripped off, 
swam the river, and was in the act of setting the gunboat on 
fire, when he was discovered and fired upon, and had to dive 
into the river, leaving his work undone, and swim back again 
amid a perfect shower of bullets, not one of which, strange to 
relate, touched him. 

The loss on our side at Whitehall was about 30 killed and 
120 wounded. 

Our regiment was followed by the 9th New Jersey and others, 
until all the infantry were under full headway, leaving only a 
battery and a company of cavalry to engage the attention of the 
enemy until nightfall. 

We continued our march to within about five miles ot Steep 
Creek, and eight of the Wilmington Railroad, and halted for 
the night. 

On Wednesday morning our regiment, followed by the 9th 
New Jersey, again took up the advance, and proceeded cau- 
tiously along to within about two miles of the railroad, where, 
as we came out upon the brow of a hill, we could see about a 
mile in our front the gleaming of the enemy's arms, as they 
slowly withdrew. Our advance companies came up with them, 
and quite a lively skirmish ensued, in which Sergeant Hardy of 
Co. F was mortally wounded. 

Lt. Col. Fellows seemed in his element, and went on even in 
advance of the skirmishers. 

A battery had been planted on the liill just mentioned, and 
commenced shelling the retreating rebels. 

We advanced through a wood, skirting the mill pond, and, 
just on the further edge of the wood, where we struck the county 



102 ON THE RAILROAD. 

road, we came upon a deserted rebel camp, the fires still 
burning, and in the ashes of "which many roasted sweet potatoes 
were found. 

After a short halt, we advanced along the county road which 
crossed the railroad about a mile to the south of the railroad 
bridge over the Neuse river, on arriving at which place abun- 
dant evidences were manifest of a hasty preparation to receive 
us, abandoned in greater haste, the hoes and shovels used in 
making rifle-pits and breastworks being left in confusion along 
the track. Axes were immediately brought into requisition, the 
telegraph posts cut down and the wires destroyed. 

We halted a few minutes just beyond the railroad, and, two 
companies being sent out as skirmishers to the left, took up our 
march on the track towards the bridge, which it was the pur- 
pose of the expedition to destroy. 

This bridge was a magnificent structure, about 200 feet long, 
and is said to have taken twelve months to build. 

The 1 7th had proceeded but a quarter of the distance, how- 
ever, when they were opened upon by a battery placed on the 
track across the bridge, which, having the exact range of our 
position sent shot and shell into us with terrible accuracy. 

The track was immediately cleared, the regiment dividing, 
taking each side of the railroad, (the bed of which there rose to 
an elevation of about ten feet,) and gradually advanced towards 
the bridge. The fire from the battery and sharpshooters on 
each side of the railroad, became so continuous and heavy that 
it was difficult to tell whether moving along or laying still was 
most dangerous ; but we kept pressing on, returning the fire as 
best we could. Our firing was rapid, but, though the bullets 
flew into where the enemy were supposed to be, yet I doubt if 
they did much execution. 

While advancing cautiously onward, and during one of those 
pauses in our progress rendered prudent by the iron and leaden 



THE 'UNDER DOG IN THE FIGHT.' 103 

hail directed against us, an incident occurred, which impressed 
me at the time as being truly ludicrous. A Co. K man, named 
Gately, who was hugging the side of the railroad with commend- 
able zeal, was approached by a rebel of the canine species, 
which, with that instinct that often approaches to reason, and is 
at times wonderfully developed in this species of animal, seemed 
to realize that he was in the midst of danger, and sought the 
nearest place of shelter. For this purpose, he insinuated him- 
self between the soldier and the ground. The man not relish- 
ing the companionship, from prudential reasons, no doubt — an 
inch of elevation in the position he then was affording so much 
of an additional mark for bullets or erratic pieces of shell, — 
endeavored to dislodge him, saying — 

"Clear out of this, d — n you!" 

But the dog would not stay repulsed, and again returned, 

"Give him the butt of the musket!" suggested Phil. Mealley,. 
(another of Co. K's men), "knock him over into the ditch!" 

This suggestion was acted upon, and the dog driven off. 

As we were marching down the railroad in the first place, 
and when the enemy opened upon us, the cry was raised among 
the men — Billy Patterson's stentorian voice being among the 
loudest — 

"Unfurl the flag!" 

"Let the d — d rebs see what we fight under!" 

"Show them our colors!" 

A man named Carney, of Co. I, who was color-sergeant, im- 
mediately responded to the call, and shook out the folds cf the 
old 'star spangled banner;' and there he stood on the railroad 
track, alone, for half an hour, a mark for the enemy's sharp- 
shooters ; but, strange to relate, though two of the color guard 
who were lying down behind him were wounded, and the old 
flag riddled with bullets, he received not a scratch. This act of 
true bravery, no matter how ill-advised it might have been, is, I 



104 'OH, WHAT A FALL WAS THERE !' 

think, deserving of a record, and the honor of this deed should 
be given to the man who so nobly faced death while upholding 
his country's flag. 

Having progressed in the manner described about half a 
mile, somebody gave the order, and every one repeated it, to 
form on the railroad, and charge across the bridge — what for, 
except to take the battery ju9t beyond, which had so annoyed 
us, I could not understand. Supposing however, that every- 
thing was correct, I scrambled up the bank and took my place 
with the rest. Then with a shout and a cheer we commenced 
the charge on the double quick ; but had not proceeded twenty 
yards when, from the skirt of woods bordering the field on our 
left there came — tr-r-r-r-r — a volley of musketry fired by file, 
followed in half a minute's time by another volley delivered at 
once. (I should judge from the-length of the line that no less 
than three regiments fired each time). And then commenced 
a scene that it would be vain to attempt a description of, espe- 
cially by an actor in it. In less time than I can relate it, every 
man who was not wounded, had jumped, tumbled headlong or 
rolled over into the ditch at the right of the track, and the regi- 
ment apparently thrown into the wildest confusion. I have 
been told that those who witnessed the scene thought for the 
moment that the 17th were cut to pieces; but were agreeably 
surprised to see the brave fellows spring up again, and com- 
mence a rapid fire upon the enemy, using the elevated bed of 
the railroad as a breastwork. 

There were but four orfive men wounded from these vol- 
lies. The rebels, evidently mistaking the distance (about 200 
yards), and the height of the railroad bed did not fire high 
enough, and most of their bullets lodged in the bank at the 
left — an extremely lucky circumstance for us all, as was also the 
interruption to our progress thus given ; for had we crossed the 
bridge few of us would ever have returned to tell the tale. 



KNOCKED OVER. 105 

When the sound of the first volley struck my ear, I involun- 
tarily turned nay head to see where it came from, and 1 men- 
tally remarked — "What splendid file-firing!" But -when the 
second volley burst out at once, the smaller sounds uniting to 
swell the volume into a deafening crash, I was too absorbed in 
calculations upon whether any of the musical messengers of 
death singing about my ears, were intended for my especial 
misfortune, and hesitating among the confused mass of men 
what to do with myself, when, just as a shell burst close over 
me, I received a knock on the left side which doubled me up, 
and I toppled over, with the others, head heels into the ditch. 
The breath was knocked out of me, but sensibility remained ; 
and, strange to say, while falling the short distance down the 
bank, I made twice over this mental calculation — 

"If the bullet [I thought it was a bullet, and went quite clean 
through me, for I felt the pain equally in both sides] has not 
gone through my stomach I may get over it. If it has, I'm a 
goner, sure." 

Picking myself up, as best I could, and, with a rueful visage, 
I suppose, replying to the inquiries of my comrades if I was hit, 
I took off my blanket, unbuckled my belt, and proceeded to 
search for the wound. I will freely acknowledge, that at thi3 
time my thoughts were not of the most lively character ; but, 
upon searching and finding no wound save a painful bruise, I 
could have jumped for joy, and felt better pleased than if I had 
come into possession of the best plantation in North Carolina. 
In picking myself up after the tumble just described, I noticed 
the 9th New Jersey, who had advanced down the field to our 
right, retire on the order at the double-quick. And yet, after- 
wards, in Gen, Foster's report, this regiment received all the 
credit for what the 1 7th had done. 

After a while Morrison's battery came thundering along, and 
got into position in the field at the right of the railroad, and 



106 



BATTLE OF GOLDSBORO BRIDGE. 



commenced hurling shot and shell into the enemy in fine style. 

The men were loading and firing away in splendid fashion, 
though I think with questionable results, and, catching the 
spirit of the occasion, I added my feeble quota to their efforts. 

At one time, after discharging my piece over the railroad, 
and coming down to reload — the shot and shell of the enemy 
screaming and bursting over and around us, they having 
brought a number of their batteries to bear upon our particular 
position — I beheld one of our men (a very young fellow), with 
his head punched into the bank; and looking the picture of be- 




wilderment and terror. Seeing that he appeared unhurt, I 

questioned him while loading my piece : 

"What's the matter ? Why don't you fire ?" [No answer.] 

"Is your piece loaded ?" "Yes." 

"Then, d — n you, get up, and act like a man!" 

But he was too terrified to move, and I left him in disgust, 

although pitying the infirmity thai should have deterred him 

from ever entering the army. 



'MAKE ROOM FOR A MARINE.' 107 

I have omitted to state that half a dozen of the marines, 
whom weAad been guarding, had volunteered into Co. I (our 
smallest company in point of numbers), and in this engagement 
they acted with great gallantry. Our men were crowding the 
embankment towards the bridge, and one of the marines anxious 
to have his share of the fun, sung out — 

"Make room for a marine, there, will you ?" 

"Bully for the marine!" shouted the boys, as they made way 
for him. 

One of our fellows had taken shelter behind a log, and a 
non-commissioned officer observing the act, routed him out, tell- 
him to go forward and do his duty. The man departed, and 
the officer took his place, snugly ensconcing himself behind the 
log. 

Lt. Col.'Fellows was continually going up and down the line, 
encouraging his men, showing them by his example a pattern of 
the most fearless bravery. 

Lieut. Graham, of the Artillery, went forward with combus- 
tibles to fire the bridge, but soon returned pell-mell, jumping 
behind a log, exclaiming — 

"D — n them, they won't give a fellow the ghost of a chance 
out there!" 

An order then came to form into line, and I thought it a case 
of particular hardship in taking up my place in the ranks to 
have to stand upon a log, which elevated me about two feet 
above my comrades, and thereby exposed me more to the flying 
shot and shell of our own batteries, as well as those ot the ene- 
my; for our own shells were bursting just over us, and Morri- 
son's battery was belching forth its destructive missiles just above 
our heads. 

The order was given, and we marched out from behind the 
embankment, and were halted in the rear of Morrison's battery, 
and ordered to lie down in a hollow made by taking earth for 



108 FIRING THE BRIDGE. 

the bed of the railroad. The rebels seemed to have the ex- 
act range of the position, and the way the shell and solid shot 
scattered and tore up the earth about us, and in our midst, was 
a caution. Col. Fellows alone stood, and some of the officers 
were remonstrating with him upon the rashness of thus exposing 
himself, when a shell at that moment came screaming by, appa- 
rently within a few feet of his head — 

"Phew! there she goes!" exclaimed Col. Fellows; and reply- 
ing to the officers, he said — "Well, it appears to me, that it is 
just as safe standing here, as lying down ; if a man is to be 
hit, he'll be hit lying down as well as in any other position!" 

"Poor philosophy, Colonel," I thought, "but very inspiriting 
words." 

Lieut. Barnabas F. Mann then came forward, with a bundle 
of prepared combustibles in his hands, and called for two volun- 
teers to accompany him to the bridge, to operate with another 
party in an endeavor to fire the same. The men were instantly 
forthcoming, of course, and the trio started on their dangerous 
errand. We watched them with anxiety, and saw them gain 
the bridge amid a perfect death-shower of bullets, one of which, 
unfortunately, hit our brave Lieut. Mann on the plate of his 
belt, causing a severe contused wound. They returned with 
the wounded officer, reporting that they did not succeed in 
their enterprise ; but were mistaken, as will be seen presently. 

Faint cheers were now heard from the rebels, and on looking 
to ascertain the cause, it was discovered that a train had arrived 
with reinforcements, which could be seen rapidly defiling from 
the cars and forming in line of battle across the railroad. Capt. 
Morrison learning this, immediately jumped upon the railroad, 
and directed the fire of his battery. The first shell fired fell 
rather to the left of the rebel line. The second fell in their 
midst almost on the railroad track, and the way they scattered 
into the woods was amusing. 



DESTRUCTION OF THE RAILROAD. 109 

A 'monitor' or battery came up with this train, and imme- 
diately commenced shelling us, every shell bursting directly 
above our heads. At the third fire from Morrison's battery, the 
shell exploded the engine, and a column ot white smoke shot 
up into the air, carrying with it, no doubt, the lives of many 
poor rebels. 

The enemy's fire began to slacken, and just as another 
attempt was about to be made to fire the bridge, smoke could be 
seen issuing from it, and soon the whole structure was wrapped 
in flames. • The most important part of the work was accom- 
plished. 

In the meantime the work of tearing up the rails and sleep- 
ers of the railroad, and setting them on fire, was efficiently per- 
formed by the gallant 5th Mass. regiment and the New York 
Cavalry, the latter destroying another railroad bridge about two 
miles north of the great bridge ; and when the fight was con- 
cluded I had time to notice the smoke of hundreds of fires, ex- 
tending as far as the eye could reach on the bed of the road, 
indicating how completely the work of demolition had been 
■ accomplished. 

Our regiment then marched out from under fire, and were 
received with cheers from all the other regiments that had come 
up to our support. 

We then took up the advance on the return movement ; but 
had not proceeded far, when we heard firing, and cheers of 
men, indicating that the fighting was not yet over, and soon an 
order reached us to halt. We were formed in line of battle, in 
case the forces in front would be compelled to retreat ; but after 
a half hour's suspense in this position, were ordered again to 
the scene of our late labors, where we arrived in time to see the 
tail end of the fight, and to find we were not needed. 

It appears that just after we had retired from the field, and 
towards sunset, the rebels having crossed the county bridge, 



110 THE WOODS ON FIRE. 

some two or three miles above, to the number of three or four 
thousand, came down and charged across the railroad upon bat- 
tery B, 3d New York Artillery. They formed in three lines of 
battle and came on with a terrible swoop intending to crush all 
before them. 

The captain of the battery ordered his pieces to be loaded 
with double charge of grape and canister, and when they came 
within about sixty yards, sent a hail storm into their midst which 
mowed them down like grass, and before they could rally or fly, 
sent another discharge into them which threw them into such 
confusion that they incontinently fled, and were seen no more. 
The 5th Massachusetts was supporting this battery, and received 
great praise for its gallant behaviour. About forty prisoners 
were taken, and if the artillery supports had charged, no doubt 
many more would have been captured. 

Our aid not being required, we went to the right about, and 
again took up the backward track ; but though night had fallen 
on the scene, our way was not in darkness ; for, some of the men 
— stragglers, perhaps — of the advanced regiments, had amused 
themselves in setting the woods on fire, on each side of the road. 
The scene was grand. The huge pitch-pines, which had been 
stripped to obtain the gum, from which turpentine and rosin 
were made, were ignited, and burned fiercely, and lined our 
road on either side like flaming sentinels. The underbrush had 
also caught, as well as the dried leaves, and with their volume 
of light added, rendered our pathway as clear and distinct as if 
the noon- day sun poured down his burning,, beams. The heavy 
and regular tread of the marching battalions; the rumbling of 
the artillery and the baggage wagons and ambulances; the 
braying of mules ; the confused hum of voices ; the occasional 
cry of pain from the wounded men ; the fierce, flaming, crack- 
ling, and cracking of the trees on fire ; the occasional crashes of 
the falling giants of the forest ; and the illuminated cloud of 



A BIVOUAC SCENE. Ill 

smoke which hung over all, made up a picture of sight and 
sound that, once witnessed, can never be forgotten. 

I was tired, weary, bruised, and exhausted, and felt truly 
glad when we halted for the night, which we did in the same 
place we had bivouacked the night previous. 

We resumed our march next morning ; but I could not keep 
up, and arrived at the bivouac long after the regiment had 
stacked arms. But on emerging from the wood in full view of 
the encampment, I beheld a sight which was the grandest I ever 
witnessed. The ground rose to a considerable elevation from 
and on each side of the road, on both sides of which were en- 
camped the infantry, cavalry and artillery. I could see the 
long lines of bivouac fires extending to the woods on either side, 
and the swarthy visages of the men as they moved around, or 
gathered about the fires, smoking and talking over the events of 
the day ; and, what with the braying of mules and the barking 
of isolated and astonished dogs, there came a hum from the 
host that resembled the murmuring of 'many waters.' Added 
to this sight of magnificence the surrounding woods on fire, and 
the crashing of falling trees and branches, which might lead to 
the delusion that quite a number of small skirmishes were going 
on at the same time, and you will have some faint idea of the 
picture that met my gaze. To one unacquainted with military 
matters, looking upon that scene, it would appear that instead 
of an army of fifteen or twenty thousand men, there were at 
least double or treble that number encamped before him. 

On our return, we were accompanied by a goodly number of 
escaped slaves, and any one who beheld the processions of these 
escaped bondmen — and they were dotted all through and alon<r 
the line — men, women and children, and witoessed the patient 
and even cheerful manner in which they toiled along, with all 
they could hastily gather up in their flight, would be convinced 
that their love of liberty was prompted by more than an indefinite 



112 CONTRABANDS BACK TO NEWBERN. 

idea of the blessings of independence. I could not help occa- 
sionally smiling at the grotesque appearance of some of the 
females, who had, apparently, left the more useful articles of 
their own wardrobe, to indulge in the inevitable female taste for 
finery and gewgaws, by 'confiscating' and bringing off in tri- 
umph some of their late mistresses' finery. Some were appar- 
ently unmarried, and they carried the largest amount of 'plun- 
der,' while those who had children to carry or look after, could 
not bring more than a few necessaries of life, and, perhaps, a 
bed-quilt or blanket. Some had mules or carts ; but the major- 
ity were on foot. After a tedious and toilsome march of over 
three days, in which no enemy annoyed our flanks, front or 
rear, we arrived in Newbern, as 'hard' a looking set of men as 
probably ever entered that city before. We were thankful, 
however, that our toils and fighting were over for the present, 
at least, and enjoyed the short repose granted us, ere we 
resumed our duty as provost guard of Newbern. 

The 17th regiment continued in the city until the 26th of 
January, 1863, when it was relieved by the 45th, and went into 
barracks near the old county bridge across the Trent river. 
Here the regiment was engaged in doing picket duty, and con- 
structing earthworks under the superintendence of Major 
Frankle, in which latter duty they were assisted by the 43d 
Mass., encamped near by. 

The winter wore away heavily enough, but was enlivened by 
occasional dancing assemblies in the different companies' quar- 
ters, each emulating the other in the taste displayed in their 
decoration. 

On the 14th of March (the anniversary of the battle of New- 
bern), the enemjupade an attack upon an entrenched camp of 
two regiments of \VesselPs brigade, across the Neuse river, and 
at the same same time attempted to shell the city; but the gun- 
boat Hunchback coming to the rescue, they were driven off. 



INVESTMENT OF LITTLE WASHINGTON. 113 

The affair was a fizzle on the part of the enemy, although from 
a sketch of it which 1 have seen in one of the New York illus- 
trated papers, the public might be led to suppose it was most 
sanguinary and terrible. 

I omitted to mention, in the proper place, the departure on 
the 7th ot Feb'y, '63, of an expedition composed of a portion 
of the 18th Army Corps and Gen. Peck's Division of the Army 
of the Potomac, which arrived from Norfolk in January. This 
expedition, upon which so much was counted, proved a failure, 
owing to a disagreement bptween Gens. Foster and Hunter as 
to which general should have the chief command and direction 
of affairs in the operations against Charleston ; and, as Foster 
could not have his own way, he withdrew a considerable portion 
of his forces, and with them returned to North Carolina in 
March. 

About the first of April, the rebel Generals Hill and Gar- 
nett, with about fifteen thousand troops invested Little Washing- 
ton, and erected batteries so as to command the approaches by 
water. Gen. Foster arrived the day it was invested, and great 
fears were entertained for his safety as well as that of the gar- 
rison. The rebels commenced a vigorous bombardment of the 
position , but after fifteen days pounding, and being pounded in 
turn, they fell back, and raised the siege. During all this time 
we could distinctly hear the sound of the cannonade, although 
the scene of conflict was fifteen or twenty miles distant. 

On the 7th of April, the 17th formed part of an expedition 
undertaken for the relief of the besieged city ; but upon ap- 
proaching a place called Blounts' Mills, the enemy was discov- 
ered in force strongly entrenched. A severe skirmish ensued, 
the 17th losing seven men and an officer wounded, when the 
position being found too strong, the troops were withdrawn, and 
the expedition returned, without having accomplished anything 
The expedition renewed its attempt on the 17th of April, and 



114 ATTACK ON NEWBERN. 

reached Washington on the 22d, without opposition, the enemy 
having previously withdrawn. 

On the 27th, the 17th with the other regiments of the brigade, 
including the 45th Mass., started on an expedition to Green 
Swamp, upon the railroad leading to Kinston. On the 28th, at 
a place called Sandy Ride, near Cove or Cole Creek, the ene- 
my were encountered, and the 45th advanced towards where 
they were entrenched, and would, no doubt have driven them 
out in fine style, for the 45th was really a good fighting regiment, 
but the Col. (Codman) hesitated, not from fear, I think, but ill- 
judged prudence, when two companies of the 1 7th were ordered 
up by Lt. Col. Fellows, and marched into the enemy's works, 
which they found abandoned. The expedition returned to its 
bivouac of the night previous, amidst a drenching rain, having 
marched nineteen miles in nine hours. 

On the 5th of July, the 17th formed part of an expedition 
under Gen. Heckman, and proceeded to Warsaw, where they 
made some important captures of rebel stores, and destroyed 
salt works, &c. 

On the 1st of October, the 17th again assumed the provost 
duty of Newbern, relieving the 27th Mass., where it has, I 
believe, remained ever since. 

The rebels had during the winter of 1863, made several 
feints upon Newbern, and drove in our pickets at various times, 
but never approached nearer the city than ten miles. During 
the Fall of '63, after the nine months troops had been all with- 
drawn from the department, their time having expired, the com- 
paratively small garrison had been still further depleted by Gen. 
Butler (who succeeded Gen. Foster as department commander) 
for the purpose of strengthening other posts. The rebels fully 
aware of this, determined upon the capture of Newbern, and, 
during January, collected a force of 15,000 or 20,000 men at 
Kinston, and on the 26th, reached our outposts, which they 



SENT TO BEAUFORT. 115 

drove in. About 114 men of the various companies of the 17th 
under command of Lieut. Col. Fellows, went to the assistance 
of the pickets at Batehelder's Creek, and on the 1st of Feb. 
were attacked by an overwhelming force of rebels, and lost 
eight officers and fifty men taken prisoners, and one killed and 
four wounded. Among the prisoners were Lieut. Col. Fellows, 
Adjutant Cheever (wounded), Capt. Lloyd (wounded), and 
Lieuts. B. F. Mann and Comins. But the rebs didn't get New- 
bern, although they captured Plymouth and its brave com- 
mander (Gen. Wessels), and the heroic garrison under his 
command. And after all the blood shed in the efforts to hold 
Little Washington, it has been abandoned to the enemy. Let 
as hope that the same policy will not be pursued in the case of 
Newbern, which is certainly one of the most important and 
strongly fortified posts held by our army on the coast. 

1 was taken sick in April, and sent down to Beaufort with 
thirty or forty other sick men. We took the cars at Newbern, 
and in about three hours were transported from the heat and 
dust of the interior to the cool, bracing air of the sea coast. On 
the way down I noticed that the country we passed through 
seemed little better than a continuation of swamps. We passed 
Havelock station, where a block-house had been erected in the 
midst of a swamp, and I pitied the poor fellows whose duty it 
would be to garrison that post during the coming warm season. 
Further on we came to clearing, and saw a line of breastworks 
behind which it was intended to dispute the advance of Burn-' 
side's forces in their march from Slocum's Creek to Newbern, 
but which he drove them from with little trouble. Newport 
Barracks, about ten miles from Morehead City, was a collection 
of some dozen houses, and the quarters of the cavalry and in- 
fantry pickets in that section. Carolina City was next reached, 
but where the city was I couldn't for the life of me make out. 
It was not anything like so grand a place as Newport Barracks, 



116 __ THEN AND NOW. 

and I should not have known of its whereabouts but for the 
camp of the 23d Mass., which was said to be in the city. We 
next passed .through Morehead City to the railroad terminus or 
wharf, about a mile further on. Morehead consists of one or 
two hotels, and forty or fifty houses and stores. A number of 
steamers and transports were laying at and ofi the railroad 
wharf. To the south, across the sound, I beheld Fort Macon, 
and anchored abreast of it and inside the sound were ships of 
all descriptions, from the captured blockade runner to the huge 
blockaders which were taking their rest and preparing to resume 
their dangerous duties off' Wilmington, relieving in turn some 
other blockader. The city of Beaufort lay to the eastward, and 
looked much larger than it really was, and quite imposing. 

While waiting for transportation, and looking at the various 
objects of interest around, my eye lit upon an individual (a ser- 
geant in the — Mass.) whom I instantly recognized as having 
seen at Camp Cameron, whither he had been detailed to gather 
up recruits. But what a change had been wrought in his 
appearance ! When I saw him at Cambridge he was full of 
life, spirit, confidence, and business — and drove a profitable 
trade there in the retail of porter, ale, &c. (under the rose, of 
course.) Now he looked cheerless and forlorn — utterly 'played 
out,* and as anxious as the most peacefully inclined rebel that 
'this cruel war' should be ended. Hard marching, hard beds, 
hard usage, hard fighting and hard tack, had evidently left their 
mark upon him. And yet he was not sick — only dispirited a 
little. 

A boat being at length in readiness we embarked, and after 
an hour's sail reached the Hammond Hospital at Beaufort. This 
hospital was in a building or series of buildings formerly known 
as Pender's Hotel, and was one of the most considerable and 
extensive of its class in Beaufort, and before the war was the 
summer residence of many planters and their families from the 



HOW PENDER LOST HIS HOTEL. 117 

interior who made this city their watering place. The main 
structure was built out upon the shore, on piles, so that the tide 
ebbed and flowed under it, and was altogether one of the most 
delightful places I have seen in that section. The former owner 
(Pender) was among the first and most active in the secession 
movement in North Carolina, and, witn a company of men he 
had raised in Beaufort, took possession of Fort Macon ; but 
Burnside came along, and after taking Newbern,Morehead City 
and Beaufort, leisurely proceeded to knock him and his fellow 
traitors and their arrangements into a 'cocked hat,' and Pender 
was taken prisoner and forced to leave his fine hotel, with its 
plate, furniture and bedding, behind him ; and the story went 
that the negroes, the poor whites who remained, and some of the 
officers of a Rhode Island regiment divided the spoils. 

The city of Beaufort is well laid out and looks quite pleasant 
from the water ; but though there are a few good dwellings and 
some old-fashioned stores, the houses are scattering and the sand 
ankle-keep in the streets. In fact, the city is built upon a bank 
of sand ; and how the inhabitants managed to cultivate gardens 
was a mystery to me — but they did make gardens, and in some 
instances very creditable ones. The soil, however, seemed too 
sandy for any fruit trees but the fig, which flourished in great 
plenty. The majority of the people — who, I judge, never ex- 
ceeded two thousand in number— seemed to live by fishing and 
gathering shells. Beaufort is so situated within the folds of a 
marsh, and the approaches to it are so intricate and shallow, that 
it can never become a place of any great commercial importance 
— Morehead City will be its successful rival in that respect. 

We (that is, the sick men) were assisted to land, and, after 
our names were checked and our surgeons' certificates or as- 
signments deposited, shown to our ward room ; and, to tell the 
truth, we had no cause to complain of our new quarters, which 
were pleasantly situated in the main building, commanding an 



118 TOM AND THE DOCTOR. 

extensive view of the harbor and the sea beyond. The beds 
were really good — but to us poor devils who had known nothing 
of the kind since leaving home, they appeared truly luxurious. 
A little experience in the productions of the culinary department 
of the hospital, however, did not impress us so favorably with that 
part of the programme. The bread was often hard and mouldy, 
and the beef as solid as a frozen turnip and salt as Lot's wife. 
As for the soup, it was whispered around that it was* nothing 
but sea water in which salt junk was boiled, and a few carpen- 
ters' shavings thrown in for vegetables — it was called 'salt-water 
soup.' Of fresh meat I never tasted any in the hospital, while of 
fish and oysters, which were in great abundance in the market, 
I did not have more than two meals during the four weeks I 
was in hospital. When we complained to our fellow patients 
of the fare, they told us it was much better than it had been. 

A few days after our arrival we were called up to undergo 
examination by the hospital surgeon, Dr. Ainsworth. In answer 
to one of his queries, we all told him we liked our quarters very 
well, but complained about the poor quality of the 'grub.' 

When Tom McNally (the hero of the kicking mare) came 
up, Dr. Ainsworth asked — 

"Well — what's the matter with you, sir ?" 

"O nothing particular," replied Tom. 

"What were you sent here for, then ?" 

"Why — to recruit my health, I suppose." 

"Ah — I see. I think you'd better go back to your regiment. 
I send some others off tomorrow, and you can go with them." 

"I'd just as soon go now, sir." 

"No. You can't go till I send you." 

"Well, for God's sake, give me something to eat while I am 
here!" returned Tom. 

"Here," said the doctor to the clerk, "make out papers for 
this man, and have him sent off immediately!" Then, taking 



THE HAMMOND HOSPITAL. 119 

another sip from a glass on the counter beside him, which looked 
like whisky, he added — 

"These 17th men seem hard to please. I shouldn't wonder 
if they boarded at the Revere House before they came into the 
army!" 

That the hospital at Beaufort was not well conducted, I could 
plainly see, though to a visitor everything seemed to work well. 
And I was reminded of a reply made to an observation of mine 
to one of the patients in a general hospital at Newbern, that 
everything seemed favorable to the comfort and recovery of the 
sick — "Ah," he replied, "what you see is all very well — but 
there are many things you don't see!" 

It was so with the Hammond Hospital at Beaufort. A pack 
of idle, worthless fellows, in the enjoyment of the most robust 
health — who should have been doing duty with their regiments 
in the field — were employed as clerks and orderlies, who, by a 
system of espionage upon the actions of the men and of persecu- 
tion to all who incurred their displeasure, exercised a kind of 
petty tyranny which made them obnoxious but at the same time 
feared. These understrappers, while the patients were often 
deprived of some of the most common and desirable necessaries, 
reveled in the choicest dishes and delicacies to be obtained, in- 
cluding wines and preserves. This I have seen myself, and 
mentally contrasted it with the coarse fare of the poor patients 
who were forced to swallow the barely parboiled salt junk and 
dry bread, and the abominable milkless and unsweetened slops 
dignified with the name of tea or coffee. 

And yet there was one man in authority, who seemed to do 
all in his power to remedy the too palpable evils. This was 
the assistant surgeon, Dr. Vaughan — a New Yorker, I believe. 
He was a kind, humane man — and to his exertions were due, in 
a great measure, the reforms that had been made in affairs. I 
have seen him day after day in the kitchen enforcing a reform 



120 RED TAPE* 

in its arrangements; and I noticed, too, that on such occasions 
our meals were so much better than usual as to elicit remarks 
cf satisfaction from the partakers. 

'Red tape,' I presume, is indispensable in the conduct of all 
affairs pertaining to Government; but no where does its knotted 
folds tighten with more deadly effects around the destiny of its 
victims than in the hospitals. Hundreds die in the hospitals 
every year, who, if transferred to their homes at the North, 
might recover — if not, they would at least have the consolation 
of dying among their friends, which is the least that might be 
accorded by the Government to the poor fellows who become 
disabled in its service ; but as they can not be sent North with- 
out a discharge from the service, and often while the discharge 
papers are passing through the tedious processes of signature 
('the mill of the gods grinds slowly') the unfortunate patient 
becomes impatient, fretful and gloomy at the delay, and that 
'hope deferred which maketh the heart sick' in many cases 
increases the virulence of the disease or brings on a relapse — 
and the poor fellow, so lately warmed with the pleasing hope of 
seeing once more his friends and his home, closes forever in 
blank despair his eyes in the bitterness of death. 

[Since the above was written, I find that, through the efforts 
of Governors of different States and other good men in power, 
this evil has been partially remedied. I would respectfully but 
earnestly call the attention of those in power — and especially 
our good Governor of Massachusetts, who has always been the 
soldier's friend — to the adoption of some system whereby all 
sick men who will bear transportation can be sent home to their 
friends, and by this means thousands of lives may be saved.] 

I will instance a case in point, to show the fatal effects of de- 
lay in the matter of discharges of sick men. A young man, 
named Palmer, who belonged to a New York regiment, was sent 
to the hospital at Beaufort, very sick from chronic dysentery. 



A VICTIM OF RED TAPE. 121 

It was thought by the surgeons, after they had treated his case 
for a while, that nothing could save his life but a change to a 
more northern climate ; but this could not be effected without a 
discharge. They interested themselves, however, and the dis- 
charge papers were forthcoming in an unnsually short space of 
time. The poor fellow, buoyed with the hope of again seeing 
his friends, rallied a little, and actually gained considerably 
in strength ; but just as he had got on board the boat at the 
wharf, which was take him with a' squad of other discharged 
men to the steamer in waiting, an order came from the surgeon 
that he must return, as there was some informality in his papers, 
and a new set would have to be made out. The poor fellow 
returned ; but the shock occasioned by the disappointment was 
too much for his enfeebled constitution to bear. A relapse en- 
sued, and in a few days he was a corpse — the victim of 'red 
tape,' or incompetency, or criminal carelessness— which? 

I have said the undstrappers at the hospital made a 'good 
thing' out of the necessities of the patients. They did more. 
The whisky intended for hospital uses was not only used by 
them, but frequently disposed of to the man-'o-war's men, who 
paid liberally for the same. The loss to the hospital (or rather 
the patients) was made up in this wise : When a pail-full of 
whisky was drawn from the cask, it was said that an equal quan- 
tity of water was thrown in — so that when the cask got pretty 
well down from the withdrawal of the legitimate supplies for 
hospital use, it was remarked by the patients that they got water 
diluted with whisky, instead of whisky weakened with water as 
in the earlier stages of this peculiar process. 

There were many other things in the management of this 
hospital open to criticism— though, doubtless, the fault did not 
always lay at the door of the surgeon in charge. For example 
— there was quite a large number of disabled men, whose dis- 
charge papers had been made out and sent to headquarters for 



122 DISABLED SOLDIERS. 

signature, but had been kept back two, three, and even six 
months — for no reason whatever save some contemptible quibble 
or pretense that these papers were not made out correctly. 
Here were a large number of men unfit for any duty — some of 
them permanently disabled, others in the last stages of decline, 
and all axious to be sent home as soon as possible, since they 
could be of no further use to and only a burthen upon the Gov- 
ernment — kept against their own wishes, at a heavy public 
expense, and all because Dr. So-and-so, or Medical Director 
Bobolink, or their understrappers, were too indolent or careless 
to do their duty properly. Many of the nine-months men who 
had become disabled and were placed in the hospitals for dis- 
charge, were retained for some time after their regiments had 
been mustered out of service. No doubt it is a good and a very 
charitable thing to retain disabled men in hospitals whose dis- 
charge therefrom would throw them upon the charity of the 
world ; but cases of this kind are very rare. Nearly all have 
friends who would willingly care for them, or belong to com- 
munities who have providently considered such contingent de- 
mands upon their charity, and made liberal arrangements to 
that end. In any case, I believe the condition of such men 
would be eminently improved by a transfer to the North — either 
to their friends or to some convalescent hospital or home for 
disabled soldiers. 

I have now drawn towards the close of my narrative, and find 
that, instead of having room left for an elaborate essay (were I 
capable of writing one) upon the condition, character and habits 
of the freedmen, I have only space for a few general remarks. 
I do not regret this, however, when I reflect that there are many 
others better qualified for such a task than me. 

In the course of my experience with the contrabands, I have 
been favorably impressed with their capacity for becoming a free 
people. The negroes seem, as a general thing, to possess a 



THE FREEDMEN. 123 

superior vitality to the white men of the South ; for, with com- 
paratively poor domestic arrangements and an inferior style of 
nutriment, they seem to thrive better and be capable of greater 
endurance and more continued physical exertion. They dis- 
play a thirst for knowledge — a desire for information — an indo- 
mitable faculty of acquisitiveness, and a superior power of 
imitation, which must lead the social philosopher to but one 
conclusion, viz., their eminent fitness for advancement in the 
social scale from the position of bondmen to that of freemen. 
And the necessity ot some such change in the social condition 
of the negroes of the South cannot but be too apparent to every 
fair-minded man who has beheld the universal manifestations of 
the desire for freedom displayed by them. They are endowed 
with a temperament at once docile and energetic, light and 
serious. They have considerable aptitude for the mechanic arts, 
and are probably, some of them, the best practical farmers of 
the South. They are generally moral and deeply impressed 
with the sacredness of religion ; but it is true at the same time 
that they have many petty vices — and the wonder is, that under 
so debasing a system they have any virtues at all. Of the 
length, breadth and depth of their mental capacity I do not pre- 
tend to judge — all white men are not equal in that respect; and 
I trust I am not one of those who believe that nothing good can 
come out of Nazareth. As to the radical mental and physical 
difference which is said to exist between the black and the 
mulatto, I must confess I could never perceive it — there are 
the weak, puny and imbecile of both shades of color, at well as 
the strong and active, intelligent and energetic. 

It cannot be denied that, above all other things, the negroes 
have an unbounded desire for freedom — extravagant only in the 
risks it will cause them to run to obtain that boon ; for, once 
free, they are content — nay, happy — to begin on the most 
humble scale to climb the ladder of fortune. They are very 



124 MACK BOURNE, THE NEGRO PEDAGOGUE. 

domestic in their habits, and where they can find no habitation 
ready for them when they come into our lines, will set to work, 
and with such materials as very few white men would make 
available, erect a hut — not an elaborate one, to be sure, but all 
sufficient for their humble wants. 

In and around Newbern I should judge there were from 5,000 
to 8,000 escaped slaves, and of that number at least one half 
were located in camps or collections of huts of their own con- 
struction in different localities adjacent. There was one of 
those on the left of the Trent road, near Fort Totten ; another 
near Fort Spinola on the other side of the Trent river, and a 
third just across the railroad bridge and to the left of the railroad. 

This latter village, inhabited by over one thousand negroes of 
all ages and sexes, was under the supervision of Mr. G. R. Kim- 
ball, of Nashua, N.H. (Mr. K. was formerly Sutler of the 1 7th.) 
Upon expressing a desire to learn some facts in regard to the 
negroes under his charge, he kindly offered to give me all the 
in his possession. 

The adult negroes under Mr. Kimball's charge were all in the 
employ of the Government — the females were engaged in cook- 
ing, washing, and making pies and sweetmeats, for which they 
found a ready sale among the soldiers. "And a more contented 
and happy lot of mortals," said Mr. K., "you can not find any- 
where." This I verified from a personal inspection. 

Among other places I visited the village school. It was kept 
by a negro named Mack Bourne, and contained twenty-five 
pupils. When I entered, Mack did not seem pleased at the in- 
trusion, and said — 

"Look here, sojer — I dusent want any body in de sojer busi- 
ness to come in here ; for d'oder day one of you sojer men — he 
cum'd in here, and he stole a testament from me — he did — a 
bran new one, too — and I don't like sich work — I don't!" 

I told him I did not come to take anything from him. 



'DAT testament'. 125 

"What did you cum for, den ?" 

"My dear sir," I replied, in a melo-dramatic tone, "I am a 
member of the press, and take an interest in your welfare." 
"You is — you do? De press — wha-what press — de ex-press?" 
"No — the printing press — for printing newspapers." 
"Oh! — Is you a-gwine to print a paper? I tought you was a 
sojer!" 

"And so I am, my friend ; but Pm a printer also." 
"Dus you make books like dis a-one ?" displaying a primer. 
"Yes; I could print a book like that, or — a testament." 
"Look here,, sojer," he said, the remembrance of the loss he 
had sustained making him suspicious— "I tink you'm foolin' me. 
Now, sar, I dusent like to be fooled — I dusent!" 

But I assured him I didn't want to fool him, and so pacified 
him that he became confidential, and told me his history. He 
was 'raised' in Plymouth, and had been taught to read by a 
nephew of his master's, who gave him lessons on Sundays, on 
the sly. None of his scholars had advanced beyond lessons in 
spelling, and most of them were in the alphabet. The girls 
seemed to make the most rapid progress ; and two of these — 
named respectively Rosette and Melvina — could spell words of 
two syllables, after a tuition of only four weeks. 

"Ise glad Ise free now — dat's so !" I one day heard a little 
curly-headed ebony urchin say to another. They had just been 
let out ot school in Newbern. Struck by the oddity of the say- 
ing, I stopped and questioned the lad — 

"Why are you glad you're free, my little fellow ?" 
" 'Cause, sar, I can go to school, and learn to read ; and den — " 
"Well, what then V" 

"Why, den de ole woman'll guv me heaps of sweet 'tater pies!" 
When the Goldsboro expedition was about to start a requT- 
sition for thirty negroes was made upon Mr. Kimball. These 
together with a like number from other camps, were to be used 



126 CONCLUTION. 

as auxiliaries to the pioneer corps. He called them together 
and stated that an expedition was going off, that Gen. Foster 
wanted thirty of them to go with it, and called for volunteers. 
Only six men stepped forward in answer to the call. 
"What," said he, "only six! Is that ail the men T have ?" 
When one of the delinquents stepped forward and asked — 
"If we goes, Massa Kimball, will dey guv us guns ?" 
"Yes — you will have guns if you need them." 
Upon this announcement they all came forward and offered 
to go, and he had no easy task to select the thirty men required 
from the eager crowd. 

This was before W T ild's brigade had an existence ; but showed 
that the negroes had manhood enough to fight for their freedom 
— which they have since fully proved on many a bloody field. 



My task is done — would I could think it well done ; but as it 
is it must go forth, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, with 'all its 
imperfections on its head.' I might have made it better — but I 
did not. The world moves on rapidly — things get jumbled up / 
strangely in these troublous times — and, I suppose, the minds of 
men get confused and jumbled up also, for sympathy is a law of 
nature ; — life is short, and greater men than I have made mis- 
takes ; but no man who fights in the cause of mankind — of 
universal freedom — can greatly err in its advocacy. The soldier 
who braves the hardships and perils of the campaign and suffers 
in a good cause, holds that cause dearer the more he endures 
for it ; and the remembrance of those scenes, filled with glowing 
and startling pictures, often serves to renew that patriotic fire 
which forever burns in a corner of his heart. The armies of 
the rebellion have been flanked — the Confederacy will also soon 
be flanked, and, like my book, must sooner or later come to an 

END. 



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